What to Check When Buying an Old Car

Buying an older car requires a careful eye. Unlike a nearly-new vehicle still under warranty, an old car has years of wear and tear that need to be assessed. Here is what you should check before handing over any money.

Bodywork and Paint

Walk around the car and look at every panel. Check for rust bubbles under the paint, particularly on sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and around the boot lid. Surface rust can be treated, but structural rust is expensive and can fail an MOT. Also look for mismatched paint colour between panels, which suggests accident repair.

Engine and Underbonnet

With the engine cold, remove the oil filler cap and check for milky residue, which indicates a blown head gasket. Check the dipstick for correct oil level and colour. Look at the coolant in the expansion tank for any signs of oil contamination. Listen for any knocking or tapping noises when the engine is running, and check for blue smoke from the exhaust, which indicates burning oil.

Gearbox and Clutch

Take the car for a drive and test every gear. Automatic gearboxes should change smoothly without hesitation. Manual gearboxes should not crunch or feel vague. Check the clutch biting point is not too high, which indicates wear. If the clutch slips under hard acceleration, it will need replacing soon.

Brakes and Suspension

Test the brakes at low and high speed. Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Feel for vibration through the steering wheel or pedal, which can indicate warped discs. Bounce each corner of the car to check the shock absorbers are not worn. A bouncy ride means new suspension components are needed.

Tyres

Check the tyres have at least 3mm of tread depth, though the legal minimum is 1.6mm. Look for uneven wear patterns: worn edges suggest tracking problems or under-inflated tyres. Check the sidewalls for cracks or bulges, which are a safety risk. A full set of decent tyres can cost several hundred pounds to replace.

Electrics and Interior

Turn on everything: headlights, indicators, fog lights, interior lights, air conditioning, heated rear window, and radio. Check the mileage on the odometer and compare it with the MOT history online. A worn steering wheel or pedal rubber on a low-mileage car can be a red flag for clocking.

MOT History Check

Use the government MOT history checker to see the car's test results for its entire life. Look for patterns of the same fault appearing year after year, which suggests a recurring problem not properly fixed. Check that the mileage has increased sensibly between tests and has never dropped.

If you are buying an older car and need parts to sort out the inevitable issues, TRD Moters at Unit 15, Lilleshall Grange, Newport TF10 9HL can help. We stock a wide range of used and new parts for most popular models. Call 07721 551617 to discuss what you need.