While opting to purchase a used car can be far more economical then buying from the showroom, you should always adopt an air of caution when it comes to buying a vehicle second hand. Not only is there the slight possibility that you could be buying something that is unsafe to drive or needs a significant amount of work to make it roadworthy but you have to make sure the sellers paperwork is in order before you even think about making the purchase.
The most important aspect of a car’s paperwork is its V5 document (on occasion referred to as the motors logbook). Here you will find all the essential information about the vehicle; such as the sellers name and address, vehicle registration number, chassis number and VIN plate. For a start, if the seller cannot produce a log book for the vehicle in question then you should opt out of buying it straight away however always ensure that the details in the V5 are correct; such as making certain that the name and address of the registered holder is the same as the seller so as to ensure that it isn’t being sold by a third party.
In addition to the V5 document, it is vital that other such paperwork like its MOT certificate and service record is in order. A lack of an up-to-date service record (especially if the car is older) means that it hasn’t been looked after and mechanical problems are sure to follow. If it has an up-to-date service handbook then check to see if any particular part of the vehicle has had consistent attention over the years; this could mean a severe fault with a part of the system.
Luckily most Edinburgh used cars all have their paperwork firmly in order however it is always worth being reasonably suspicious when buying second hand as it could save you a lot of money as well as mechanical and legal trouble down the line.
