Step by step
The right way to buy a used car
Nine steps, in order. Each one is quick, and each one can save you from a bad car before you've spent money on it.
Last reviewed: September 2026
1. Pick the model and age first
Decide which two or three models you'd buy, and at what age, before you look at adverts.
Reliability varies hugely between models and ages.
2. Search properly
Use the listing site's full filters so you only see cars worth your time.
3. Check the car's history before you travel
A history check is the cheapest way to rule a car out before you spend a day on it.
It shows whether the car has been written off, has money owed on it, has had its mileage altered or has been reported stolen. You can also check some basics for free on the government's vehicle register: make, model, colour, motor tax status, test status, number of previous owners and whether it was imported.
Government vehicle register4. Call the seller
Ask the right questions on the phone and you'll rule out most bad cars without leaving home.
5. Look at it in daylight, with a checklist
View the car in daylight, with the engine cold, and work through a checklist.
6. Get a mechanic to inspect it
If you're serious about a car, pay an independent mechanic to check it.
A good seller won't mind. One who does is telling you something.
7. Agree a fair price
Know what the car is worth, then negotiate using anything the checks turned up.
8. Pay safely
Pay by bank transfer, never pay a deposit on a car you haven't seen, and get a signed receipt.
Before you hand over money, take the VRC (logbook), the NCT certificate, the service history and both keys.
9. Transfer, insure and tax it
Change the ownership into your name, and have insurance before you drive it away.
Since late 2024 you can change ownership entirely online: the seller starts it with the registration and their VRC PIN, and you confirm your details online. It can also still be done by post using the VRC. Make sure the motor tax is sorted in your name.