Buy your car safely
Buying a new car
Decide what you want and how much you can afford.
Check the cost of insurance and Insurance Group.
Loan Repayments , Running costs petrol servicing etc.
Insurance try
The AA
Loans
Dial for a loan Car Loans
Check price guides to see what is available for the price you want to pay ,
and to check the value of any car you want to trade in.
Parkers ( car that you wish to buy and your cars trade in Value )
Check Dealers Inventorys via this Page for special offers current stock
( any Manufacturers Incentives )
Look for reputable dealers who follow code of practice
such as the Code of Practice for the Motor Industry.
Also check these 2 sites for information
The Retail Motor Industry Federation<
The Government Office of Fair Trading
Buying a used car
Price Guidelines ( research the price of the car you wish to buy )
Autotrader
Exchange and Mart
Parkers( your cars trade in Value )
How much will it cost and can I afford it
Include the cost of insurance, loans, running costs,
Loan Repayments Use
Dial for a loan Car Loans
Use the following site as a rough guide Use AA Car Insurance
The AA
Running Costs Petrol MOT Servicing Depreciation
How much will I get on Part Exchange
What do I look for when buying a used car
If you would prefer to feel peace of mind that the car has not been stolen or
written off and is Mechanically Sound use an independent service
E.G.
The AA provides the service ( Often when they find problems the dealer will
resolve prior to your purchase )
and if the report is very bad you have saved a lot of money and heartache
Our help guide to buy your next used car
(Major Things to remember )
View a car in Daylight before you Purchase
If a car is very very cheap ( there must be a reason ) buyer beware
Drive the car yourself before purchase
The cost to use a professional service to check for the following
could save you much heartache and money
Mechanics engine tyres brakes steering etc.
Stolen
Insurance rightoff
The AA offers a full service to check any or all of the above from £50 upwards
My Personal Advice is to check the car yourself first and before purchase
pay for peace of mind before parting with your hard earned money
Help Checklist when looking at a used car
Engine
Does Engine Rattle or make strange noises when driving
Are there any oil or water leaks
Is exhaust smoke blue or black ( indicates engine wear )
Is exhaust smoke grey ( indicates water leaking into engine )
When engine stopped take oil cap off if there is grey stuff visible water has got into the engine
Check water hoses and look under car to see if oil is dropping
Bodywork tyres brakes etc
Check for rust on sills wheel arches and bottom of doors
Is Paintwork Scratched or blotchy
Are Tyres in good condition including the spare
Do window and door seals leak
Does the colour match on all panels on car ( if not possible accident damage )
Check in engine and boot for signs of welding ( possible accident damage )
Check under carpet in boot for any signs of repair
Driving the car
Is changing gear smooth and the Clutch does not slip
Do brakes work efficiently and not pull to one side or squeel when you brake
Does steering wheel judder when driving at different speeds
Do any alarm lights appear on the dash when driving
Does car pull to one side when driving
Are there any strange noises when turning corners
Are Tyres in good condition including the spare
Do window and door seals leak
Is Mileage Genuine
Check Mileage on current and old MOT Certificates if available
Ask for service history if available ( best indication of a cars genuine mileage )
Are pedals and gear Knob very worn for supposed mileage or are they very new
Is mileage contradict mileage when car last sold ( check with previous owner on V5 )
Has car been stolen
Has VIN number ( vehicle identification number ) been tampered with
Is the VIN on other areas of the car the same as on Documentation
Check for signs of forced entry to car or changes to locks
Does the seller have current V5 ( registration document )for car
Does V5 appear to have been tampered with and is watermark on V5
Is sellers name same as name on registered owner on V5
Check number plate on V5 is same as on car
Check engine number on V5 same as on car
Check VIN on V5 is same as car
Does the owner have current MOT and Insurance certificate
The AA offers a full service to check any or all of the above from £50 upwards
