Questions worth asking the seller
Seven that tend to reveal the most, before you even open the bonnet.
01How many owners has the car had, and is the full service history available to see?
02Why are you selling it?
03Has it ever been in an accident, or had any bodywork or paint repair done?
04Are you the registered keeper, and does the log book match your name and address?
05Is there any outstanding finance on the car?
06How many sets of keys come with it?
07Would you be comfortable with an independent inspection or a proper test drive before I commit?
A 10-minute inspection anyone can do
No tools or training needed - six passes over the car, in order.
01Documents
Does the name on the V5C match the seller, and are service history and receipts for work available?
Catches a seller who isn't entitled to sell the car, or isn't upfront about it. Service history shows whether it's genuinely been looked after.
02Walk around the outside
Dents, scratches, rust, or mismatched paint panel to panel; are the panel gaps even all the way round? Use your hands and phone torch as well as your eyes.
Mismatched paint or uneven gaps are often the clearest visible sign of bodywork after a knock, even if nobody's mentioned it.
03Tyres (all four)
Even tread depth, no cracking or bulges, nothing obviously mismatched. Check each tyre's age too - the date code is moulded into the sidewall.
One of the few genuinely safety-critical checks anyone can do on the spot. Mismatched tyres can point to a repair or an alignment problem, and can cause issues down the road.
04Under the bonnet
Oil level looks right, no obvious leaks or corrosion, no warning lights once started, no glaringly squeaky clean parts in an otherwise well-used engine bay.
Low oil or a warning light at start-up is often the earliest, cheapest sign of a problem.
05Inside
Seatbelts extend and click properly, no damp smell, dashboard lights clear after starting.
Seatbelts and warning lights are safety equipment, not comfort features. Damp can be an early sign of a leak.
06Test drive
Listen for knocks over bumps, brakes don't pull to one side when applied, gears/clutch feel smooth, no new lights appear. Check reverse and full steering lock both ways too.
Some faults only show up once the car is actually moving, warm, and under load. Always drive safely, make sure you're insured, and don't get distracted - a test drive doesn't require driving outside normal, safe use of the car.
Staying safe when viewing a car
Sensible precautions, nothing dramatic.
Where possible, view during daylight hours.
Where possible, view at the address shown on the seller's V5C, not somewhere unrelated.
Consider bringing someone with you.
Let someone else know where you're going and roughly when you expect to be back.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash - a bank transfer or other traceable payment method protects you both.
Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it's always fine to walk away.
What this checklist can't tell you
Everything above is a real, in-person check you can do yourself for free. What it can't do is confirm what's on official record: whether the car's MOT and mileage history line up, or whether there's outstanding finance recorded against it. That's exactly what Motoble's free vehicle lookup is for.
Start with the free lookup
Pop in the registration and see the car's MOT history, tax status and typical issues in seconds, before you even arrange a viewing.