Buying a used car can be one of the biggest financial outlays you are likely to make and therefore you will want to make sure you make the right choice. Carrying out a few basic checks will reduce any risk and potentially save you any unexpected expense. You don’t necessarily have to be qualified to carry out the following checks;

1. Unless you are purchasing the vehicle from a registered car sales business the first check that you should make is with a national database such as HPI or Experian, these checks are simple to carry out online and for a small fee and the registration mark of the vehicle you can soon find out if the vehicle is subject to any outstanding finance agreements, stolen or subject to a total loss insurance claim.

2. Check the vehicle service book to ensure that servicing has been carried out at the correct intervals in accordance with the maker’s specifications. Vehicles without a proper checkable service history are not worth as much as those that are able to be checked.

3. You should always check the vehicle bodywork for current or previous damage. Current damage will be easier to check for, previous damage will entail examining the paintwork carefully in particular different color shades. Fresh paint is normally a slightly different shade and if noticed could indicate that the vehicle could have sustained accident damage at some point in time.

4. The Engine can be checked for excessive wear by removing the filler cap from the rocker cover whilst the engine is running, check the inside of the filler cap for a milky type sludge substance as this would indicate that there is a problem. There should be no signs of any smoke coming from the rocker cover.

5. On a test drive check that the clutch is not worn to excess, if the clutch pedal travels almost back to its position of rest before the car moves this could indicate wear in the clutch plate or a problem with the cylinder that requires further investigation.

6. Check that the tyres have sufficient tread and that the tread is wearing evenly, if a tyre has more tread on one side than the other this could mean that the tracking or steering geometry needs to be realigned.

7. It is always advisable to ensure that vehicles older than three years have at least six months mot test.

It pays to shop around for the best deal when buying a used car, there are so many different makes and models available to choose from and so you should find what you are looking for without the need to pay more than the going rate. You will find many online sources to obtain a valuation on all makes, models and mileage. Remember if a vehicle has covered more than average mileage it is worth less than identical models with less than average mileage. The average is between 12 and 14 thousand miles per annum.

Buying a used car is an important decision to make. Feel free to visit http://www.carsaleslocal.co.uk/ where you can get more tips and advice about buying a used car and Local Car Sales in the UK.