Buying a used car: the ultimate guide (Sponsored)

Auto Express' Mat Watson talks you through buying a used car in this useful video guide, sponsored by HPI.

[kyliem]

I've honestly never known anything more stressful than buying my first car!

[jemmang-ho]

1:09 - check auto express for known faults and what to expect to pay
1:15 - check V5 for chassis number, colour, address
2:45 - check mileage on previous MOT test
3:45 - check all electrics
Cam belt - uocoming repairs
Foam and compressor
Check clutch - 3rd gear and accelerate
Pay with credit card

[falseteeth]

13:00 Notice how the dealer sits on a chair that's higher than yours. It's a classic psychological selling tactic. His chair will usually have arm rests too whereas yours won't.

[hectorheath]

Very good informative video. Even mentioned the way that a new oil change turns black quickly on a diesel, something that I didn't know and caused me to question whether the dealer HAD serviced the car before I picked it up.

[asiannvasion]

8:27 'Leave the seller behind' - Is that even possible? Does the driver no have to sit-in whilst driving? What if the potential buyer damages/steals the car?

[rscosworthfan]

worth noting too that since this video was made the rules have changed you have to tax the car yourself a car cannot have remaining tax on it the moment its sold the seller gets the remaining tax left and you have to retax it yourself

[thomasvaughan]

Great video. Just a note, "mayonnaise oil" can just be that the car has been used for short journeys, the oil never heats up enough to evaporate any normal water vapor in the oil. My car has always had mayo oil for the sole reason I only drive I 5km a day. No other problems.

[MrMichaelpaul]

Priceless information thank you Auto Express.

[wholeNwon]

Lots of good advice, obviously directed at UK shoppers. I'd add that you should remove the oil filler cap and check for the same oil/coolant "mayonnaise" indicating failed head gasket or cracked block and for carbon-crud indicating bad oil and/or infrequent changes. Have someone else start the engine from cold and check the appearance of the exhaust. White may indicate bad head gasket. Brief blue is usually valve guide seals. Continuous blue is usually due to bad rings. Don't buy it. Pulsation in the brake pedal with light application = warped rotors. If the A/C needs "gassing", it's leaking and that's a problem. Check wipers, lights, etc. Go to your bank or credit union for financing, not the dealer or anyone that the dealer recommends. Check Consumer Reports for the long-term reliability of the car. Don't buy anything that other owners are having problems with. Will you pay the dealer too much? Yes, always. You'll either know it or you won't know it. But hopefully not too much.

[nguyenvanduc]

Very useful information. THanks a lot.

[IslaSprollie]

Mat Watson is so good, I'll even watch this 'how to' video all the way to the end!

[Improveng]

Nice one, some really great advice there.

[kafayetullah]

thank you so much for so many information .

[arfer]

Wow. Great video. Lots of stuff I can use here.

[azizurrahman]

wow thanks for this video and invaluable resource before you buy a car! :)

[davidbillyard]

Colour of engine oil is a good indication to general engine condition with petrol engines. I also remove the oil filler cap whilst engine is running and up to temperature to check for excessive blow by (worn piston rings).

[voonture]

Awesome Information, helping me a lot with buying a used car.

[flaxvert]

Great info there, thanks for sharing on youtube. I am looking to spend around 7 grand on a Dacia Duster in January so will be doing a lot of checks now :)

[ziaglos]

Wowww, that's an awesome lesson before getting the right car. 👈💯👍👏👏👏

[marcuswoodgate]

why at 12:40 does it says it's a Citroen grand c4 picasso when it's just a normal c4??