What to check before buying a used car

Cars are the highest-stakes everyday classified. The ad can only tell you what the seller wants to tell you. Your job is paperwork and a mechanical look — ideally by someone who is not selling the car.

Paper first

Rules differ by country. In general you want to see: identity of the person you are meeting, the registration document, and whether there is outstanding finance. We cannot run those checks for you and we do not transfer titles.

A calm first look

• Walk around in daylight. Mismatched paint and overspray in door shuts are worth a question.
• Tyres: even wear. A brand-new set on a cheap car can hide an alignment problem.
• Start from cold if you can. Listen, then look at the warning lights.
• Test drive on a familiar road, not only around the block.

Pay for an inspection when the price is real money

If the car costs more than you would spend without sleeping on it, book an independent inspection. That cost is small compared with a rebuilt gearbox.