See all Motoring AdviceIt’s very easy to fall in love with a car at first sight. Once you’ve arrived at the dealership and laid eyes on the car, the temptation may be to just hand over the money and drive away. It pays, however, to tread a lot more carefully. Keeping a level head and finding out as much about the car as you can before you buy it, can help avoid problems further down the road.
There are a whole range of questions a potential car buyer should ask a dealer that will not just give an insight into the car’s history and true condition, but give you an indication as to whether a seller really is legitimate and whether your consumer rights are protected should something go wrong.
Here is our list of the top questions that everyone buying a used car should ask a dealer.
What do they know about the previous owner(s)?
Very often, dealers will have long-term relationships with customers and, if they’re selling a trade-in, they may have a good idea about its former owner and the car’s life. Be sure that the condition and mileage fit with the dealer’s portrait of the former owner; for example, if a tired, high-mileage car was supposedly owned by a fastidious former keeper who covered just a few kilometres every week, it’s one sign that the dealer may not be giving you the full picture.
Can you see the Vehicle Registration Certificate?
Whether you’re buying privately or through a dealer, a look at the Vehicle Registration Certificate will give you not just a clearer indication of who currently owns the car you’re buying, but also the number of former owners.
Does the car have a current NCT?
If you’re buying a car from a dealer, it really should have a valid NCT, and if it doesn’t you really need to ask, “why not?”
Can you see any old NCT certificates?
Owners will sometimes retain old NCT certificates and discs and, if a dealer has them available to view, they can give some reassurance that the car’s mileage is accurate. Not everyone keeps old certs though, so this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.
Does the car have a service history?
If buying an older car, a detailed service history is good to have; with newer cars, it’s essential to have a good record of the work and maintenance that has been carried out, such as recall repairs or warranty claims — €10,000 - 15,000 for a newer used car, for example, is a lot bigger investment than say, €500 - €1,000 for an older one, so you need to be sure that the car is worth the money and has been properly looked after by previous owners.
Is there outstanding finance?
A vehicle history check from a service such as Cartell.ie will give you a clearer indication not just of a car’s true mileage, but also if there’s finance outstanding on a car. If a dealer is selling a vehicle with finance outstanding, it’s potentially not actually theirs to sell, and your new car could be seized by debt collectors. No dealer will tell you that there is finance outstanding on a car, so it’s important to check for yourself.
Has the car been written off?
A car being written off shouldn’t necessarily preclude you from buying it; you just need to know whether the dealer is being honest about it, the extent of the damage and quality of the repairs. Again, this is another area where a vehicle history check is useful — if a dealer says that a car has never been written off and a history check shows that it has, what else are they hiding? Category A and B write-offs must legally be scrapped whereas Category C and D write-offs may be repaired and returned to the road. Former Category C write-offs should be avoided unless you’re confident in the quality of the repair work following a professional inspection. Category D cars, provided the seller is being honest and that the vehicle has been well repaired can potentially represent a good bargain if you tread carefully.
Is there a warranty?
A dealer may provide a warranty on a used car or offer one as an optional extra in order to give a buyer confidence if something goes wrong. Although some dealers won’t. It’s worth finding out if the car is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty, as this could potentially offer extra protection against some major fault occurring.
What are the financing options?
Most dealers will give buyers the opportunity to purchase a used car on finance and, like buying a new car on a PCP deal, it helps avoid a massive up-front outlay. If you’re intent on buying a car on finance rather than, say, with a loan from your bank or credit union, figure out with the dealer what your options are and whether the payment plan will suit your financial situation.