Advice Centre

Step 1: Preparation & Research

The right car is out there for you, so it is worthwhile considering your position before making the big step of buying the car.

A car is one of the most expensive items you will have to buy, so make sure you seek advice and read up on the subject in magazines such as What Car?, and Auto Trader, as well as Haynes Books.

Before you dust down the chequebook, consider the following:

1. How much can you afford to spend?
2. If you are about to enter into a lease contract, are you confident you can meet all the repayments?
3. Find out the different payment methods and which one best suits you.
4. What will your annual mileage be and what will the primary use of the vehicle be?

Also, use a price guide to identify value-for-money opportunities and get an insurance quote (online comparison websites can be useful) so you have an idea how much it will be.

Step 2: Where & How To Look

When buying your car you have two main options: You can buy from a private individual who may have advertised in the local paper for example or you can buy from a car dealership or motor trader. A third option could be a car auction, which would probably be much cheaper, but we don't recommend it because unless you have expert knowledge, you could risk wasting your money.

The best places to start looking are your local free paper, which will contain local car dealerships and listings of some of the cars they have for sale, and the Auto Trader website and magazine.

Once you have an idea what you are looking for, you want to find the following in any car you consider buying:

• Low mileage.
• Few owners.
• Full dealer service history.
• As many extras as possible.
• Good bodywork and interior spec.

Once you've selected the car you want to view, use your price guide and fix a budget you're willing to pay.

When talking to the seller, don't discuss a price at this stage but make sure you ask:

• How long he/she has owned the car.
• If the vehicle has ever been damaged and the extent of the repairs made.
• How long is left on the road tax.
• If you want to see the car, ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive.

Step 3: Vehicle & History Check

When you go to check the vehicle, take a Haynes manual with you as this includes hints on what to look for and how to carry out certain checks.

• Take a torch with you so you can inspect all parts of the car.

• Start the engine from cold, then allow it to warm up and start the engine again, to see if the revs are stable.
• Get the owner/dealer to rev the throttle and check for blue smoke on petrol engines (a burning oil problem) and black soot on diesels (a fuel injector problem).
• Check all the exterior panels for dents and blemishes and if any of the panels have different colours, it is probably due to accident damage.
• If the car has kerbed wheels, it represents careless use.
• Check the interior for worn contact points (steering wheel, seats, mats and pedals), which indicate hard use and high mileage.
• Also look at the service history to see if there are any irregularities and check the tyres for excessive wear.
• Finally, carry out an investigation to ensure the car isn't a repaired write-off or, if you prefer, get a professional mechanical investigation from the RAC or AA.

Step 4: Finalising The Deal

The final part of the process, before you can get the keys to your car and drive off, is negotiating the price.

Always haggle over the price and never pay the asking price.

With private sellers, always knock the price down as much as possible.

This also applies to a dealer but may not be as easy, so if that fails, try getting some extras thrown in with the price (new car mats, extra warranty cover, a free service or anything that could save you money in the future).

Also make sure your insurance cover is ready before you collect the car.

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