Buying a used car can be a risky business if you go to a vendor with a less-than-stellar reputation.

While purchasing a secondhand motor is great because most new cars lose around 40% of their value in the first year, this could mean nothing if you rush into a deal with a person or company that isn’t squeaky-clean. And with so much choice on today’s car market, it’s hard knowing where to start when looking for a used car dealer. There’s a lot to consider: reliability, safety rating, economy, features, not to mention how well the car will hold its value, and how pricey it will be to maintain.

But if you take your time, do your homework, and scout patiently for offers, there’s no reason you shouldn’t locate the right model at a reasonable price. So today let’s explore 5 ways to ensure your purchase remains above board, you’re not ripped off, and you drive away with a car that meets the criteria you set out with.

1) Take a closer look

Used cars are like snowflakes: no matter how similar they look from afar, once you scrutinise them up close you see no two are exactly the same. There’s paint overspray on door seals, mufflers, wheel well liners—all sure signs of collision repairs. Perhaps there’s fragments of shattered glass under the seats. A whiff of mildew betraying a stubborn water leak somewhere down below. Lit warning lamps a portent of expensive engine repairs. Fresh undercoating masking recent structural fixes. Transmission fluid darker than the standard bright red or reddish brown. Motor oil resembling a particularly frothy milkshake because of a blown head gasket (or worse). Address your concerns openly with the dealer. If they get shifty or defensive, something’s afoot—and you’d best steer clear.

2) Shop the less popular brands

Everyone knows the leading brands that command premium prices, even secondhand. But stop and ask yourself: Why am I surrendering to these market forces when I don’t need to? There are lesser-known competitors that don’t sell as well for a variety of reasons, but their models give you a similar quality and roughly equivalent features while saving you cash by the bucketload. Check out Kia, Suzuki, Mitsubishi: they have a whole host of excellent models that were both overlooked and undersold upon release. Keep an open mind, and don’t fixate on any one model. Savvy bargain hunters familiarise themselves with a range of models, and they’re rewarded with a fantastic car at a significantly lower price than what they’d have paid for the big-selling brands.

3) Test the seller

Make sure the seller knows the car and its features inside-out. Ask to see its service history and previous MOT certificates. If they don’t seem to actually know a great deal about the car they’re selling and its history, at best this vendor’s probably inept—and at worst the car is stolen. If in doubt, get a vehicle history check on the car to ensure there’s no unforeseen expensive legal process down the road.

4) Inspect the car and take it for a test drive

Arrange to view the car in daylight, and ideally when it’s dry—it’s a lot harder to spot damage when the car’s wet. If you’re going through a private seller—and provided you feel safe to do so—you might consider meeting at their house so you have their address if anything goes wrong later. And of course, you must absolutely take the car for a test drive. Just make sure you’re insured to do so. If you have car insurance already, check with your provider if you can drive someone else’s car. If you don’t have insurance, a trader’s or private seller’s insurance might cover you, but always make sure.

5) Befriend a technician

Okay, so you’ve settled on the used car you want to buy. Great—but one more thing: run it by an outside professional, someone with no stake in the game, whose judgement you trust, and who only wants the best for you. If you happen to know a technician, or know of one you can get friendly with, see if they’ll mechanically inspect your prospective new car. Vehicles repaired post-collision can be hard to pick out of a lineup, but a professional inspection on a hoist will ease all your concerns. Any technician worth their salt will detect paint overspray and creases in the unibody. There are garages everywhere that do inspections only, no repairs. A lot of used car shoppers won’t invest that half-day to take the car for a third-party assessment, but not going that extra step can be the difference between driving off with a solid, reliable car and a piece of junk.

You can be sure of peace of mind with Car Planet

Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a minefield if you follow these rudimentary steps to not getting ripped off. And to guarantee you’re in safe hands, you can go to a highly renowned used car dealer like Car Planet.

Car Planet are experts in used cars in Watford and Hertfordshire. Our virtual viewings mean you can check out a car from the comfort of your own home, or you can come in and view our cars in person. Every car goes through a thorough 150-point check to ensure it’s totally roadworthy. We’re transparent, too: we always display the details of a car’s imperfections. We care about sustainability, which is why we plant a tree for every car we sell, and we provide a 7-day money-back guarantee to any customer who isn’t absolutely satisfied with our service. With our competitive finance deals and part exchanges, you’re sure to find what you need, so start your search today and let’s get the ball rolling!