Buying a car · 7 min read
Inspecting a used car: the viewing in 30 minutes
What to look at, in what order, which questions to ask, and how to tell when you are better off walking away.
Before you drive to the seller
Ask for the vehicle identification number and compare it later with the one on the car. Ask about the service book, the date of the last inspection, and whether the car has ever been in an accident. Write the answers down — later they are your yardstick.
Arrange the viewing in daylight and in dry weather. On a wet car you cannot see differences in the paint, and at dusk you cannot see panel gaps.
Outside
Walk around the car and look along the bodywork rather than straight at it: ripples in the metal and differences in colour only show at a shallow angle. Check the gaps between doors, bonnet and wings — uneven gaps point to a repair after an accident.
Check the tyres: the same make all round, tread depth, age from the DOT number, wear on one side. Uneven wear means alignment or damage to the suspension.
Look underneath if you can. Damp, dark patches on the engine and gearbox are leaks; surface rust on the underbody is normal, flaking rust on load-bearing parts is not.
Inside and under the bonnet
Compare the state of the steering wheel, the pedal rubbers and the driver's seat with the mileage shown. A worn-through seat at 60,000 kilometres does not add up.
Switch on the ignition and watch the warning lights: they must come on and go out after starting. A light that never comes on at all may have been removed.
Under the bonnet: oil level and colour, coolant level, the condition of the hoses. A conspicuously freshly cleaned engine bay deserves a second look — it can also serve to hide leaks.
The test drive
Drive for at least twenty minutes, covering both town and open road. Listen for noise when steering at a standstill, feel for vibration above 80 km/h, and watch whether the car runs straight under braking.
Drive part of the way with the radio off and a window open. Bearing and drivetrain noise is easiest to hear that way.
When to walk away
If the seller refuses a test drive; if the papers are not in their name and they cannot explain that plausibly; if the chassis number on the car does not match the papers; or if pressure is applied to decide on the spot.
A good car can stand your sleeping on it. Anyone who talks you out of that has a reason.