Three essential checks to make before buying a secondhand car – and a warning sign to avoid
A TOP mechanic has warned motorists about the red flags to be aware of when buying a second hand car.
Scotty Kilmer has revealed the three essential checks those shopping for used vehicles should undertake during the road test.
He said if the car struggles to start, has poor handling and heating issues these could all be signs of much bigger problems.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Scotty explained: “Here’s some big warning signs if you’re buying a used car, if this happens, don’t buy it.
“If you drive down the road and it swerves to one side or the other all the time, don’t buy it, it could have been in a wreck.
“If the engine is cold and it cranks like mad but it doesn’t start, don’t buy it.
“If you’re driving down the road and the temperature gauge keeps going up, don’t buy it, it could be hundreds of different things, why chance it?”
In 2023, an estimated 7.2million used cars were sold in the UK – a 5.1 percent year-on-year rise, reports the Express.
Scotty went on to add: “There’s plenty of cars out here that don’t overheat and realise most people have been driving a long time.
“You know if a car feels right, you take it on a road test, it doesn’t feel right, don’t buy it.”
Scotty, who has more than 50 years of motors experience, regularly shares advice to his subscribers.
He previously revealed a tip to minimise repair costs.
And shared a cheap and easy hack to stay cool without “blowing up the system” in hot weather.
As well as a way to make your car’s air con “twice as cold”.
It comes after fellow car expert Grant, known as ‘Scottish Car Clan’, gave his own guide to buying a used motor in the UK.
Firstly, he said to actually find a car you want to buy by shopping everywhere – and decide whether you want to go through a private seller or car dealership.
The next step is to do a vehicle history check or HPI check.
One area people tended to overlook, Grant said, was to get an insurance quote, which must be done as soon as possible.
Finally, once you’re back from your test drive and you want to make a purchase, now is the time to start thinking about the price.
Grant said he is not an advocate “for just haggling for haggling’s sake”.
But he added: “If there are items that aren’t disclosed, things you didn’t know about before you went and saw the car then bring them into the negotiation.”
MAINTAINING USED CARS
Motor guru Stephen Fuller has revealed four easy and cheap ways to maintain your used car and keep it running for longer.
The expert, who runs an automotive channel on YouTube called Gerb Productions, said: “All of my cars have been used cars since I have grown up.”
Stephen advised that changing fluids should be the first step for any driver after they buy a second-hand car.
The second tip he gave was to replace the old battery on the used motor with a fresh one.
Another piece of advice was to change your car’s air filters and keep them clean.
Last but not least, Stephen advised to always warm up your car’s engine before taking it out for a spin.