Hi Frances,

I really wish there were a simple answer to that one… The first is to buy from a reputable source. Private buyers can be a great source of cars, but you need to suss them out carefully to make sure that everything’s above board, and remember that EVERYONE thinks that their own car is better than it actually is. As for dealers, a big plate-glass premises is no guarantee of probity, but it can at the very least be a sign that someone is prepared to put money into their business and is therefore, potentially, more likely to stand over a sale or a warranty. After that, it’s down to the simpler stuff — always do a history and background check with Cartell.ie, beware of cars with outstanding finance still owed, make sure all the paper work is complete and in order, and if something doesn’t feel right, walk away. There are plenty of cars out there.