What to check before buying from a used car dealer
Most bad car-buying stories start with something that was checkable up front. Work through this before you pay a deposit — it takes about twenty minutes.
The short answer
Confirm who you are buying from, read the dealer's reviews across every platform, see the V5C and history check before any money moves, and get the warranty, finance figures and deposit terms in writing. If a dealer resists any of those, walk away.
The seven checks
- 01
Who are you actually buying from?
Trading names and registered company names are often different. Search the company at Companies House and check it is active, how long it has traded, and whether the registered address relates to the forecourt you visited. A brand-new company at a residential address is not automatically bad, but it is worth asking about.
- 02
Is the seller a trader at all?
Some sellers advertise privately to dodge consumer law. If the same phone number appears on several adverts, or the car is not registered to the person selling it, treat it as a trade sale and say so — your rights are much stronger when buying from a trader.
- 03
Read the reviews across every platform, not one
A dealer can look flawless on the platform they promote and quite different on the ones they don't. Look at the total number of reviews, how recent they are, and whether the negative ones share a theme — non-existent aftersales, warranty refusals, delayed V5Cs.
- 04
Check the car's history, not just the dealer's
Ask to see the V5C logbook and check the VIN on the document matches the one on the car. A paid history check will show outstanding finance, insurance write-off records, and mileage discrepancies. Never pay a deposit before you have seen the logbook.
- 05
Get the warranty in writing
"Three months' warranty" means nothing until you have read what it covers, what the claim limit is, who underwrites it, and whether labour is included. Your statutory rights sit alongside any warranty — a warranty cannot remove them.
- 06
Watch the finance and part-exchange numbers
Look at the total amount payable, the APR and the term — not the monthly figure. If a part-exchange valuation is unusually generous, check whether the car's price rose to pay for it. Ask for the figures in writing before you sign anything.
- 07
Never pay a deposit you can't get back
Ask what happens to the deposit if the car fails an inspection or the finance is declined, and get the answer in writing. Paying by credit card can give you extra protection on purchases over £100 under Section 75.
Your rights if it goes wrong
Buy from a trader and the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If it is not, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you a short-term right to reject it within 30 days, and a right to a repair or replacement after that.
Read the detail at Citizens Advice and GOV.UK, and check a vehicle's MOT and tax status free at gov.uk/check-mot-history.
Common questions
How do I check if a used car dealer is legitimate?
Check the trading name against Companies House, confirm the forecourt address matches the registered address, look for reviews across more than one platform, and make sure the dealer will show you the V5C logbook before you pay anything.
What paperwork should a used car dealer give me?
The V5C logbook in the dealer's name or with a clear trade history, the service history, a written invoice showing the dealer's trading name and address, an MOT certificate, and the written terms of any warranty included in the sale.
Can I return a used car bought from a dealer?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have a short-term right to reject a faulty car within 30 days of buying it from a trader. Changing your mind is different — there is no automatic right to return a car simply because you no longer want it, unless you bought it at distance or off-premises.
Next
Look the dealership up to see its combined score, or read how to read a dealer's review score.
Check a dealer before you go
Every review source a dealership has, combined into one score with its sample size always shown.
Find a dealer