Buying a used car
From shortlist to handover
Latest in Buying a used car
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Buying a used car: the step-by-step roadmap
A clear order of steps from setting a budget to driving home with the keys, so nothing important gets skipped.
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Understanding the data plate and stickers on your car
Where to find the manufacturer plate, VIN and other labels on a car and what the information tells you.
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How to bring a bought car home: transport options
Driving, towing, trucks and transporters compared, with the questions to ask before you choose.
More guides
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Timing belt vs timing chain
What the timing drive does, how belts and chains differ, and why the replacement history matters when you buy.
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Test drive checklist: what to check on the road
What to do before, during and after a test drive so you notice problems that a quick look will not show.
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Signs of odometer fraud and how to spot them
How to notice when the mileage on a used car does not match its real wear and history.
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Signs of accident repair on a used car
How to notice that a car has been in a crash and repaired, and what questions to ask when you find signs.
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Set your budget: the total cost of a car
How to work out what a car really costs each month, so the price tag is not the only number you look at.
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Sell privately or trade in?
A fair comparison of selling your car yourself, selling to a dealer or trading it in against a new purchase.
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Scams and fake ads when buying a car
The most common tricks in fake car ads and how to spot them before you send money or travel.
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The real cost of owning a car
Fixed, running and hidden costs of a car, and how to see the full yearly picture before you buy.
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Reading a tyre label and sidewall markings
What the size, load, speed and other codes on a tyre mean, and how the label helps you compare tyres.
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Questions to ask the seller before you visit
A ready list of questions to ask by phone or message that save wasted trips and reveal how honest the seller is.
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Private seller or dealer: which is right for you?
The real differences in price, protection, choice and effort when you buy from a person or from a business.
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Car paperwork overview: what you need and when
The types of documents that go with owning, buying, selling and importing a car, and how to keep them in order.