How to check a used car before you buy in Ireland

Buying a used car is one of the biggest purchases most people make, and the checks you do before you hand over money matter more than the haggling. This guide walks through what to check, in the order you would do it, from the moment you spot an ad to the moment you drive away.

Start with the price

Before you contact anyone, find out whether the asking price is sensible. Paste the DoneDeal or Carzone ad link into our car ad check and you will see how it compares with similar cars of the same make, model, year and mileage. If you are selling or trading in, or you just want a ballpark, use value a car.

A price well below similar cars can mean a problem, outstanding finance or a scam. Also check recent price drops, since a car that has been reduced a few times often has a seller ready to deal.

Run a history check

In Ireland, outstanding finance stays with the car, not the person. If the seller still owes money on a hire purchase or PCP agreement, the finance company may still own the car, and it can be taken from you even though you paid for it. This is the single biggest reason to run a history check.

Paid services such as Cartell and Motorcheck will tell you, from the registration number:

• whether there is outstanding finance on the car
• whether it has been written off and in which category
• whether the mileage readings on record are consistent
• how many owners it has had
• whether it is a UK or other import, and when it was first registered here
• whether it has been reported stolen

Run the check yourself rather than trusting a seller's printout, which can be old or edited.

Written-off cars

Insurers put written-off cars into categories depending on how badly damaged they were. Some categories can never legally return to the road, while others can be repaired and sold. A repaired write-off is not illegal to buy, but it should be priced well below a clean car, and the seller should tell you. If the history check shows a write-off the seller did not mention, walk away.

Clocked mileage

Clocking means winding back the odometer to make a car look less used. A history check compares the mileage on record from NCT tests, services and previous sales. If a reading goes down at any point, or the car has suspiciously low mileage for its age, ask questions. Look at the service book, old NCT certificates and receipts, which usually show the mileage at each visit.

UK imports

Many used cars in Ireland came from the UK. That is fine, but check that VRT was paid when it came in (the history check and the registration documents will show this) and that the history covers its time in the UK as well. You can read how VRT works on Revenue.

NCT, motor tax and paperwork

The NCT is carried out by the National Car Testing Service. A car has its first test at four years old, then every two years, and every year once it is ten years old. You can check a car's NCT status on NCTS using the registration number.

When you view the car, ask to see:

• the current NCT certificate, and check the disc on the windscreen matches it
• the motor tax disc, and check it matches the car
• the Vehicle Registration Certificate (the logbook), with the seller's name and address on it
• the service history, either a stamped book or receipts
• any recent repair invoices

The name on the Vehicle Registration Certificate should match the person selling it, and the address should match where you are viewing it. If the seller cannot show the logbook, or the names do not match, be very careful. You can check motor tax on motortax.ie. Any motor tax left on the car stays with it when it changes hands, so check when the disc runs out and budget for renewing it.

The viewing

View the car in daylight, when it is dry, and at the seller's home or business rather than a car park or lay-by. Bring someone with you if you can. Ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive, because a warm engine can hide starting problems and smoke.

Walk around the car and check:

• panel gaps that are uneven, or paint that does not quite match, which can point to accident repairs
• tyres: tread depth, matching brands, and uneven wear, which can mean alignment problems
• rust on sills, wheel arches and under the doors
• the VIN on the windscreen, door pillar and logbook all match
• lights, wipers, windows, central locking, air conditioning and the infotainment screen all work
• warning lights come on when you turn the key, then go off once the engine starts
• the oil cap and dipstick for a milky residue, and the coolant level

If you are not confident, pay a mechanic to inspect the car. Many garages will do a pre-purchase inspection, and a seller who refuses to allow one is telling you something.

The test drive

Make sure you are insured before you take it out, and drive for at least twenty minutes on a mix of roads.

• Listen for knocks over bumps and whining from the gearbox.
• Check the clutch bites at a sensible point and does not slip.
• Brake firmly on a quiet road and make sure the car pulls up straight.
• Let go of the wheel briefly on a straight road to check it does not pull to one side.
• Check the temperature gauge stays steady and there is no smoke from the exhaust.

For an electric car, ask for a battery health report and check how far it actually shows on a full charge.

Dealer or private seller

Where you buy matters for your rights. When you buy from a dealer, you are a consumer under Irish law. The car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and you have remedies if it is not. A private seller does not owe you those same rights, so you take on more of the risk. The CCPC explains what you are entitled to when buying a car, and Citizens Information covers the wider picture.

Many dealers are members of SIMI, which has a code of practice for its members. Ask the dealer what warranty comes with the car and get it in writing.

Worth knowing: a dealer cannot take away your statutory rights by putting "sold as seen" on a receipt.

Paying safely

Never pay a deposit for a car you have not seen in person. That is the most common car scam: an attractive price, a seller who is "away" and a request for a deposit to hold it.

• Pay by bank transfer or bank draft, not a large amount of cash.
• Pay the person whose name is on the logbook, from a bank account in their name.
• Get a written receipt with the car's registration, VIN, price, date and both your names and addresses.
• Make sure you get both keys, the logbook and the service history when you pay.
• If buying on finance, read the terms carefully. The Central Bank and the CCPC money pages explain how car loans and PCP work.

After you buy, the change of ownership has to be notified so the car is registered to you, and you will need to tax and insure it before driving it on public roads.

A short checklist

1. Check the price against similar cars on FairPrice.
2. Run a history check for finance, write-offs and mileage.
3. Check the NCT status and the documents.
4. View in daylight, at the seller's address, with the engine cold.
5. Test drive for at least twenty minutes, insured.
6. Get a mechanic's inspection if you are unsure.
7. Pay safely, to the registered owner, with a written receipt.

A good seller will not mind you doing any of these.