Checklist
Remember to take suitable clothing for crawling underneath the car - or a mat to lie on. If you know little about cars, take an expert with you and use this list to make sure you haven't forgotten to check vital items.
Exterior, bodywork:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Is the engine compartment clean for the age and mileage? | | |
| Are there any dents or scratches - including bumpers? | | |
| Do all the body panels line up evenly - including bumpers? | | |
| Are the bumpers straight? | | |
| Is the paintwork clean and shiny? | | |
| Are all the lights working correctly? | | |
| Are any of the lights chipped or holed? | | |
| Do the doors open smoothly and quietly? | | |
| Do the doors close correctly? | | |
| Do the locks work? | | |
| Are there any scratches or chips in any of the glass? | | |
| Are there any scrapes along the bottom edges of the doors? | | |
| Does the exhaust show any signs of damage or excessive soot? | | |
| Are the wheels correct for the car and all matching? | | |
| Any signs of damage on the wheels - particularly nearside front (indicating kerbing)? | | |
| Are all the tyres the same. | | |
| Are the tyres showing any nicks, cracks or bulges? | | |
| Are the tyres more than the minimum legal tread depth (1.6mm) - preferrably much more? | | |
| Are the tyres evenly worn? | | |
| Is the oil clean? Is there any white sludge? | | |
| Are all fluids at the correct levels? | | |
Interior:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Does it smell ok? | | |
| Is the seat wear (particularly the driver's) in line with the mileage of the car? | | |
| Are there any tears, rips, cigarette burns or stains? | | |
| Are the seatbelts in good condition, run smoothly and grip when pulled firmly? | | |
| Are there any loose seats - do they adjust smoothly? | | |
| Are there any holes left by mobile phone holders or stereo speakers etc.? | | |
| Does the steering wheel show signs of excessive wear for the mileage (e.g. very shiny)? | | |
| When the front wheels are aligned straight ahead, is the steering wheel straight? | | |
| Do the pedals show signs of excessive wear for the mileage - or, maybe, they look too new? | | |
| Are the carpets dry (damp carpets indicate leaks from doors etc.)? | | |
| Do all the buttons work? | | |
| Air-conditioning working? | | |
| Do the door windows operate smoothly? | | |
| How many keys are required for doors, boot and ignition (more than one suggests locks have been changed)? | | |
| Are all the keys there and working? | | |
| If it's a convertible, is the hood in good condition, fitting correctly and free of leaks? | | |
Mechanicals:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Does the engine start immediately? | | |
| Has the engine already been 'warmed up' before the test? (It's good to test a cold engine). | | |
| Does the engine idle evenly? | | |
| Does the engine rev evenly and freely when you press the accelerator? | | |
| Are there any strange noises from the engine - knocking etc.? | | |
| Are there any leaks? | | |
| Push down hard on the suspension of all four wheels and then release - does the car settle quickly? | | |
| Is there any smoke from the exhaust? | | |
| Is the exhaust quiet - are there any rattles or unusual noises? | | |
Underneath:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Is there anything hanging loose? | | |
| Any signs of rust? | | |
| Any leaks? | | |
On the test drive:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Do all the pedals work smoothly? | | |
| Do the brakes respond well? | | |
| Do the brakes pull the car to one side when the pedal is pressed? | | |
| Does the clutch take up smoothly? | | |
| Is the clutch pedal excessively heavy to press? | | |
| Accelerate hard in a high gear - does the clutch slip? | | |
| Does the gear lever engage smoothly in all gears - including reverse? | | |
| If automatic, does the gearbox change smoothly between all gears? | | |
| Are there any strange noises or knocks from the engine or gearbox? | | |
| Are there any clunks or other noises from the suspension? | | |
| Does the car roll or feel too bumby on bends? Does it tend to bounce? | | |
| Check the rear view mirror when accelerating or decelerating - any smoke from the exhaust? | | |
Paperwork:
| Question to ask | Yes | No |
|---|
| Is the service history present? | | |
| Any repairs backed up with receipts? | | |
| Do all the MOTs run concurrently? (If they don't, ask why) | | |
| Is there a current MOT - with at least 6 months to run? | | |
| Do the MOTs and service history back up the indicated mileage? | | |
| Are all the documents present and does the sellers name match the details on the registration document (V5)? | | |
| Are you viewing the car at the address on the registration document (V5)? | | |
| Do the chassis and engine numbers shown on the registration document (V5) match the ones on the car? | | |
| Does the colour, fuel type and engine capacity shown on the registration document (V5) match the car? | | |
N.B. This list is for advisory purposes only. drivinghelp will not be responsible in the event a vehicle is purchased which is unfit or unsuitable for the purchaser.
Checking The Car Negotiating A Deal
