What should I check when buying a used car?

Before you see the car

GOV.UK’s steps start with the seller. Ask for the registration number, make and model, and the MOT test number. Then check:

• that the details you have been given match the information DVLA holds;
• that the MOT status and history match what you were told;
• whether the vehicle has been recalled because of a serious safety issue.

GOV.UK’s free vehicle information check shows a car’s tax rate and expiry, SORN status, when its MOT expires, the date it was first registered, the date its V5C was last issued, fuel type and emissions. The MOT history shows past results and the mileage recorded at each test.

When you see the car

• Ask to see the V5C log book and check it has a DVL watermark. Check its serial number is not in the ranges GOV.UK warns about, which might mean the V5C is stolen; if it is, call the police when it is safe to.
• Check the details in the log book match what you have been told.
• Check the vehicle identification number and the engine number, and that they match the log book.

If you buy it

Tax the car immediately, using the green new-keeper slip from the V5C. You must also have insurance before you use the car on the road, and GOV.UK suggests signing up for a free MOT reminder.

What these checks do not cover

GOV.UK frames these steps as a way to avoid buying a stolen or unsafe vehicle. The steps it lists do not mention outstanding finance or an insurance write-off history. GOV.UK’s page on write-off categories explains what each category means, and the answer on buying a car that still has finance on it covers that risk.