Buying a second-hand car

M ost people wait until they have passed their driving test before buying their first car whilst some impatiently jump into the shiniest second-hand car they see. 

So, what car should I be buying?
With hundreds of cars on the market, it would be almost impossible to print an exhaustive list of all the cheap cars to insure that you could buy.  However here is a list of the top six cheapest cars to insure at the moment:

1.  Chevrolet Spark
This one hasn't got a very big engine which makes it cheap to buy and cheap to insure.

2.  Citroen C1 and C3
This petite range of cars comes with extra security measures which might do you favours on the insurance quote.

3.  Fiat Panda and Qubo
Quick for getting about in and basic, so you the insurance should be straightforward.

4.  Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback
A popular car while still being fashionably small.  A popular one for low cost insurance.

5.  Volkswagen Fox
A cheaper version of its predecessors.  The brand comes with a price tag, but the insurance makes up for it.

6.  Ford Ka and Fiesta
An old favourite with ever increasing popularity ratings.  You know where you are with a Ka, and you won't have to worry about the insurance bills.

Which ever car you choose, it's likely to be your pride and joy, affectionately named and with you for at least a year.  Therefore it's essential to find out what you should look out for when you view a car and important to take it for a test drive first.

Buying a second-hand car
Reduce the risk of buying a faulty or stolen car by the following;
· check the condition of the car, including mechanical checks
· check the car's history
· test drive the car

If you don't feel confident about carrying out the car checks yourself, don't be afraid to take someone with you who has a more expert opinion.

Checking the condition of a car
You can test the condition of a car by checking:
· paintwork is still in good condition
· sills, wheel arches and door bottoms are not rusty
· tyres are not damaged or worn
· seat belts work
· door and window seals show no signs of leaking
· electrics work, eg lights and in the dashboard

If a car has been in a serious accident, this can cause lasting damage that means it is unsafe.
Signs that a car has been in an accident include:
· the boot doesn't close properly
· welding has been carried out on the engine
· repairs have been carried out on the boot - also check under the boot carpet
· body panels have been repaired
· the colour of paintwork is patchy or panels are different colours

Test driving a car
Always try to take a car for a test drive before you buy it.  When driving the car, make sure:
· the car doesn't pull to one side when you brake
· the brakes don't squeal or squeak
· there isn't a strong smell of petrol or oil that indicate faults with the engine
· there are no unusual engine noises
· the steering wheel doesn't shake
· that changing gear is smooth and gears don't stick
· the engine doesn't sound different when the clutch is pressed - this could indicate problems with the gear and clutch
·
Once you finish the test drive, leave the engine running while you check under the bonnet and the rest of the car. 
Check:
· the engine doesn't rattle
· there are no oil leaks
· there is no blue or black smoke from the exhaust (indicating a badly-worn engine)
· there is no grey smoke from the exhaust (indicating water leaking into the engine)

Checking the car's history
Check the car is the seller's to sell.  If the car is stolen or has an outstanding car loan on it, the car will be taken off you and you won't get your money back.
If a car's vehicle identification number (VIN) has been tampered with, it's a sign the car has been stolen (see link below).  The VIN on the car (usually under the bonnet and on the car's windows) should be the same as the number on the car's registration certificate.
You can also pay a company to carry out a vehicle history check on any car you want to buy.  This will show:
· any outstanding finance on the car
· old insurance claims on the car
· if the car is recorded as stolen

Car clocking
Car clocking is when the milometer has been turned back to reduce the number of miles on the clock.  This falsely increases the value of the car and is of course illegal.
Signs that a car has been clocked include:
· the milometer numbers are out of line
· the mileage on the car's last MOT certificate or service history documents is more than the milometer reading
· the gear knob, steering wheel and pedal rubbers have been replaced to make the car look newer