A car can be a significant investment. You may spend tens of thousands of pounds on a new model, only for much of that value to be wiped out during the first few weeks and months of ownership.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative to buying new: the used market. Buying used isn’t quite as risky as it once was, but it’s still worth taking a few precautions before finalizing a purchase. Let’s look at a few essential checks to perform.
Safety
Safety should arguably be your foremost concern while shopping. If the car isn’t safe to drive, then it could endanger the lives of the occupants and those of other motorists. What’s more, it will likely fail the next MOT test it undergoes.
First, check the lights. You can do this with the help of a friend or the person selling the car. Check the brake lights, the indicators, the fog lights, and the headlights.
Next, test the brakes. You can do this during the test drive on a suitable stretch of road. You don’t have to perform an emergency stop, but you should pay attention to the brakes’ responsiveness.
MOT and service history
You should ask for relevant documents from the seller. These include the service history and the V5C. You can look up the MOT history yourself, using the government’s online service. If a look into the vehicle’s history gives you pause, then it might be a sign that the deal isn’t worth pursuing. Trust your gut.
Engine
The engine is the part of the car that you should pay close attention to. These are complex machines that have to deal with considerable wear and tear over the years. Thus, they have a tendency to break down. What’s more, the degradation is often hidden until the point of failure. Check the engine for leaks, and check under the oil cap for the kinds of sludge that might indicate a blown gasket.
Exhaust smoke colours
If the exhaust emits black smoke for long periods after the car is started, then it’s a sure sign of an underlying problem. The exhaust might produce a puff of smoke as you turn the ignition, but this shouldn’t last for longer than a few seconds. This is part of the reason that it’s important to inspect the car from the outside while the engine is running.
Insurance
Once you’ve made the purchase, you’ll need to transport the vehicle back home. This is where temporary car insurance might come in very handy. You can take out a policy for a single day and thereby ensure that you’re covered while you look at the car and move it to where it needs to be.
Jessica Alexander
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