Most bad car-buying experiences start the same way: a tempting advert, a quick message, and a long drive to “come and see it”. Then the story changes. The service history is missing, the price has “added fees”, the warning light “just came on”, or the seller suddenly can’t find the V5C.
The good news is you can filter out a lot of time-wasters before you ever leave the house. A few smart checks will tell you whether the car is worth a viewing, or whether you should move on and keep looking.
This guide is aimed at normal buyers who want a clean, low-drama purchase. Nothing over the top. Just the checks that stop you wasting weekends.
Start with the seller, not the car
It’s easy to get hypnotised by the photos and the spec list. But the first thing to assess is who’s selling the car and how they behave when you ask basic questions.
If it’s a dealer, their website and online presence can tell you a lot. A decent dealer site doesn’t just look smart, it makes the buying process clear. You should be able to find the address without hunting, understand whether the pricing is transparent, and see listings with proper detail rather than one blurry photo and a copy-paste description.
From a buyer’s point of view, a trustworthy dealer website usually has a few signals in common: clear contact details, clear policies, proper stock listings, and information that makes it easier to make a decision without feeling pushed. If you want a quick benchmark for what “good” looks like, this guide to car dealer web design is a useful reference.
If the site is vague, slow, missing key details, or feels like it’s been thrown together, treat that as a soft warning. It doesn’t automatically mean the dealer is dodgy, but it does mean you should be more cautious, ask more questions, and avoid anything that feels rushed.
The two-minute MOT history check that catches most rubbish early
If you’re buying in the UK, MOT history is one of the quickest ways to spot problems before you travel. You’re not looking for a perfect record. You’re looking for patterns.
A clean pass every year isn’t the only “good” outcome. Plenty of well-maintained cars still pick up advisories. What matters is whether the same advisories show up again and again and never seem to be resolved. That can suggest the car has been run on a budget, or that repairs are being delayed until something fails.
A few things that are worth pausing on:
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Mileage that jumps, drops, or doesn’t rise in a steady way for the age of the car
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Corrosion advisories that keep returning year after year
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Repeated tyre, brake, suspension, or steering warnings that look like a running theme
If you see something that doesn’t add up, ask about it before you book a viewing. A normal, confident seller will answer calmly and give context. A seller who gets defensive, vague, or tries to brush it off is giving you information too.
Do a paid history check when you’re genuinely interested
If you’re at the point where you can see yourself buying the car, pay for a proper history check. You’re not just checking finance. You’re checking whether the car has been written off, whether it’s flagged as stolen, and whether the identifiers match up properly.
This is especially important if:
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The deal feels “too good” compared to similar cars
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You’re buying a higher value vehicle where any marker can become a real problem
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The seller is pushing for a deposit quickly or trying to rush you through the process
It’s not about paranoia. It’s about removing uncertainty before you hand over money.
Service history: proof beats promises
“Full service history” is one of those phrases that sounds reassuring but often means very little on its own. What you actually want is evidence that matches the mileage and the life of the car.
Invoices are better than stamps. A clear timeline is better than a vague “it’s been done”. And if the car is known for specific maintenance items, you want to see those tackled properly rather than dodged.
For example, if you’re looking at a model where timing belts matter, you want to see evidence of that work at the right mileage or age. If it’s an automatic with known servicing requirements, you want to see that it hasn’t been ignored. And if it’s a diesel with complicated emissions systems, you want to see that the car hasn’t just been doing short trips its whole life without the right care.
If the seller can’t show anything, it doesn’t automatically mean you walk away. But it does mean you price the risk in. You’re buying a car, not a story.
Photos and descriptions: what they reveal without trying
Most buyers use photos to decide whether a car “looks nice”. The more useful approach is to use photos to spot what isn’t being shown.
If the advert has one angle of the car and nothing else, ask yourself why. If there are no interior shots, no boot shots, no close-ups of wheels, and no photos of service history, it doesn’t mean it’s a scam. But it does mean you should request more before travelling.
A decent seller will usually be happy to send:
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A walkaround video in daylight
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A cold start video, ideally showing the dash on startup
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Photos of the service book and key invoices
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Photos of any marks or damage they’ve mentioned
That last one matters. Honest sellers will show you the scrapes and scuffs. Time-wasters will try to hide them until you’re standing there feeling awkward.
Reviews: don’t read them like a tourist
If you’re buying from a dealer, reviews can help, but only if you read them properly. A high star rating is easy to manufacture. What’s harder to fake is a consistent pattern of detailed feedback.
Instead of focusing on the best reviews, read the negative ones and look for themes. One angry person might just be difficult. Ten people mentioning added fees, deposit issues, or faults appearing immediately after collection is a very different signal.
Also pay attention to how the business responds. A professional, calm reply usually tells you more than the praise does. A defensive reply often tells you even more.
The pre-viewing questions that save you wasted journeys
Before you travel, you should be able to get clear answers on the basics. You’re not being picky. You’re doing what any careful buyer should do.
Ask:
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What’s included in the price, and are there any admin fees?
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How many keys are included?
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What warranty is included, and what does it actually cover?
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Will the car be supplied with a fresh MOT, and if so, will advisories be addressed?
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Are there any warning lights, known faults, or current issues?
If the seller won’t answer in writing, or keeps trying to push you into “just come down and we’ll talk”, be careful. Good sellers don’t fear clarity. They use it to build confidence.
When you view the car, keep it simple and calm
You don’t need to be a mechanic to spot obvious warning signs. You just need to avoid being rushed.
Try to see the car cold if possible, not already warmed up. Listen to the idle. Pay attention to knocks over bumps. Check the tyres for uneven wear. Make sure the electrics work properly, including the boring stuff like windows, mirrors, lights, heaters, and sensors. If it’s an automatic, notice how it changes gear under gentle acceleration as well as a bit of load.
Also watch the seller while you do this. Someone who is confident will let you take your time. Someone who tries to distract you, talk over you, or hurry you along is usually doing it for a reason.
Why an independent inspection is often the best money you’ll spend
If you’re spending proper money and you’re not confident assessing the car yourself, an independent pre-purchase inspection can be the cheapest “insurance” you’ll ever buy.
Even if you still buy the car, you’ll know what it needs next and you can negotiate properly rather than guessing. It also takes the emotion out of the decision. Instead of “I love it, I hope it’s fine”, you get “Here’s what it needs and what it’s worth”.
Conclusion
The best used car buys aren’t always the cheapest ones. They’re the ones where the seller is transparent, the paperwork matches the story, and the car’s history makes sense.
Do the online checks first, ask the awkward questions early, and only travel when the basics stack up. It’ll save you time, it’ll save you stress, and it’ll stop you buying a problem that you could have spotted from your sofa.
