Paperwork:
All cars come with a registration document called a 'V5C'. As it says, it's proof of who is responsible for the vehicle, so a lease company may hold these documents while the 'owner' does not. Or a trader has this document from the previous keeper.
The points to note on this document is the number of previous owners and any 'special notes'. This is where any notes about the car being imported or recorded as a write off should be. In the case of a private sale, check the name and address on the V5C is the same as the person you're buying it from.
It will also contain the VIN number of the car so check this against the physical marking (as detailed in the 'viewing' page)
If the seller doesn't have this document and doesn't have a very good reason as to why, walk away.
- Make sure all the service books are there and that if it’s advertised as having a FSH that all the stamps are indeed in the service book.
- Look at all the paperwork including previous MOTs, receipts and invoices. Check that all the recorded mileages add up correctly and that there is proof of any work the seller has told you about.
- Look to see if and when important items such as the cambelt or clutch have been replaced.(This obviously only applies to cars with cam belts instead of cam chains)
- See how many keys the car comes with. You should have spare keys and fobs and in some cases keys for the alarm system. Make sure you get the master key if the car comes with one.
- Check that the alloy wheel locking nut keys are also present and any codes needed for the car stereo.
In an ideal world you are looking for a car with a fully stamped service history by a main dealer. Realistically you may find that the first few services (when the car was fairly new and valuable) were carried out at the main dealer and as the car gets older, servicing will be carried out at independent garages who charge less. This is not an issue, just as long as the car has been serviced as and when it should have been. The key here (for me anyway) is to have as much paperwork with the car as possible. It enables you check exactly which parts were replaced and when and is also a good indication that the owner has looked after the vehicle.
