Buying guides
Buy a used car with your eyes open
Field-tested inspection checklists and buying playbooks · the same ones our dealers and private buyers use before they hand over money.
25 of 25 guides
Budget & segment
A first car buyer's guide for the UK
What new drivers should prioritise on a first car, with models and checks suited to a tighter budget.
Read the guide9 minBudget & segment
A used van buyer's guide for the UK
What to check on a used van, common weak points by model, and how running costs differ from cars.
Read the guide9 minBuying process
Buying from a dealer vs private
How dealer and private used car purchases differ on price, protection, warranty and risk.
Read the guide8 minHistory & risk
Category S and N write-offs explained
What ABI categories S and N mean, the risks, and how to check before buying.
Read the guide8 minMechanical
DPF problems: the used diesel buyer's guide
How diesel particulate filters fail, which cars are most at risk, and what checks and repairs cost.
Read the guide9 minMechanical
Dual-clutch gearboxes: the used-car buyer's guide
How DSG and other dual-clutch gearboxes fail, which units are most affected, and what to check.
Read the guide9 minMechanical
EV battery degradation: the used electric car buyer's guide
How electric car batteries degrade, what affects it, and how to check state of health before buying.
Read the guide9 minHistory & risk
Flood-damaged cars: how to spot one before you buy
The smell, corrosion and electrical checks that reveal a car has been flooded.
Read the guide8 minBudget & segment
High-mileage cars worth buying (and how to check them properly)
Why mileage alone isn't the risk it seems, and how to tell a well-kept high-mileage car from a worn-out one.
Read the guide8 minBuying process
How to inspect a used car in 30 minutes
A structured 30-minute walkthrough to catch the faults that matter before you view further or buy.
Read the guide8 minBuying process
How to negotiate used car price
Practical negotiation tactics for used car buyers, from research to closing the deal without overpaying.
Read the guide7 minHistory & risk
How to spot a cut-and-shut before you buy
Practical checks to identify welded-together wrecks disguised as one car.
Read the guide8 minMechanical
Hybrid battery health: what to check before buying
How hybrid traction batteries degrade, warning signs, and how to assess health before buying used.
Read the guide8 minHistory & risk
Mileage clocking: how to spot it before you buy
The checks that reveal a tampered odometer, from MOT history to wear patterns.
Read the guide8 minHistory & risk
MOT history red flags every buyer should check
How to read the free gov.uk MOT history check for signs of hidden problems.
Read the guide8 minHistory & risk
Outstanding finance on a used car: what buyers need to know
Why finance checks matter and how to protect yourself from buying a financed car.
Read the guide8 minBuying process
Questions to ask a private seller
The key questions to ask before viewing or buying a used car privately, and what the answers should tell you.
Read the guide7 minBudget & segment
The best used cars under £5,000 (and what to check)
The models that hold up well at this budget, and the faults you need to rule out on each one.
Read the guide9 minBudget & segment
The cheapest used cars to insure and run in the UK
Which models keep insurance, fuel and servicing costs down, and what to watch for on each.
Read the guide8 minBuying process
The complete used-car checklist (2026)
The 60-point inspection we use before every purchase · engine, drivetrain, electronics, bodywork, paperwork.
Read the guide12 minMechanical
Turbo failure: warning signs every used-car buyer should know
How turbochargers fail, the noises and symptoms to watch for, and what a replacement costs.
Read the guide8 minBuying process
Used car paperwork checklist
The documents to check before buying a used car, and what each one confirms about ownership and history.
Read the guide7 minBuying process
Used car test drive checklist
What to test, listen for and feel on a used car test drive so a smooth ride doesn't mask a real fault.
Read the guide7 minBudget & segment
Used car warranty: what it actually covers
What used car warranties typically include and exclude, and how to check one is worth the price.
Read the guide8 minMechanical
Wet belt engines: the used-car buyer's guide
What wet timing belts are, which engines use them, and how to check one before you buy.
Read the guide9 min