![[ Auto Express ]](/front_website/images/ae_website_logo.gif){kind=logo}
Everyone knows you need to check the clutch and brakes on a potential second-hand buy. But how do you actually do it? Identifying problem areas is the easy bit; examining them propÂerly is a job for the experts.
That’s why we’ve enlisted the help of John Gregory, a technical advisor at the RAC. He’s been with the breakdown firm for 25 years: first as a patrolman, then as a vehicle inspector. John takes us through eight essential checks for any used purchase.
See our RAC expert talk you through the used car checklist in video
Buyers' essential used tips
Top tips for buying used
We team up with an RAC specialist to reveal eight essential tips for anyone buying a car second-hand
Email a FriendTo send this story to your friend, please fill the form below. You may also add your own message. |
|
|
 |
While it sounds simple, few potential buyers bother to make sure the car they are looking at matches its paperwork. “Most cars have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) marked in two or three places – usually at the base of the windscreen and on the driver’s door – plus a stamp on the chassis,” explains John. “Yet many drivers don’t check all three against the logbook.”
Each mark should have the same 17-digit figure; if there are any missing, investigate further. If the engine number isn’t in the logbook, it could mean the car has been imported. “Once you’ve got the MoT serial number and the V5 issue date, you can check the MoT at VOSA’s website,” says John. “This will tell you when it expires, and list any advisory notes, so check these have been fixed.
“Finally, look at the service books. Find out who carried out the pre-delivery inspection – it could be a foreign garage – and make sure the details match the car.”
Each mark should have the same 17-digit figure; if there are any missing, investigate further. If the engine number isn’t in the logbook, it could mean the car has been imported. “Once you’ve got the MoT serial number and the V5 issue date, you can check the MoT at VOSA’s website,” says John. “This will tell you when it expires, and list any advisory notes, so check these have been fixed.
“Finally, look at the service books. Find out who carried out the pre-delivery inspection – it could be a foreign garage – and make sure the details match the car.”