Used car buying guides
Plain-English guides for buying, or selling, a used car: what to check, how to read the MOT history and what to ask.
- What to check when buying a used carA step-by-step checklist for buying a used car: what to check before you travel, at the viewing, in the paperwork and before you pay.
- How to read a car's MOT historyWhat a car's MOT history shows, what failures, defects and advisories mean, and how to spot repeat problems, mileage issues and gaps.
- MOT advisories: what they mean when you're buyingWhat MOT advisories are, how to read them when you're buying a used car, and what to ask the seller about them.
- Selling your car? What buyers will checkWhat buyers look at when you sell a used car, including the MOT history, and how to get your car and paperwork ready.
- Questions to ask a used car sellerThe questions to ask before you view or buy a used car, from ownership and history to finance, faults and paperwork.
Looking up a fault from an MOT certificate? See MOT defects explained.
Check a car's MOT history
Free: every MOT, every defect explained in plain English, mileage, tax and ULEZ.