Checking the Exterior

Always try to arrange to view the car in daylight hours and in good weather; any flaws or damage to the bodywork or paint will be masked by poor lighting conditions or rain. When you walk around the around a car, focus on the following:

• Crouch down in front of the car and check that it 'sits' straight. Make sure that the wheel gaps are the same between the arches of each side and the wheel are aligned correctly. Any problems here could mean that the chassis has been damaged.
• Check the panels carefully to ensure that the gaps are uniform. A poor fit will indicate a shoddy repair job, as will panels that are rippled, uneven or a different shade. Crouch down at the front or back of the vehicle and look along the panels - any damage will be obvious. Also look closely for dents, chips and scrapes in the bodywork; any damage will be expensive to put right, so negotiate accordingly or walk away.
• Check the body work and underside of the car for rust, including any that may have been painted over. Also check the wheel arches and sills to make sure that they have not been filled. Once rust appears, it's very hard to get rid of.
• Whilst you're checking the underside, check for signs of welding; any mysterious welding work could indicate that the car is a 'cut and shut'.
• Look at the exhaust system; does it look like it needs replacing soon?
• Have a good look at the tyres. Are they worn evenly? If not, it could be due to poorly aligned tracking or it could be something more serious, such as a twisted bodyshell from sub-standard accident repairs. Check the tread depth; this should be a minimum of 1.6 mm in a continuous band throughout the central section of the tyre and around its entire circumference. If they're worn out or the sidewall is damaged, you'll need to budget for new tyres.
• Examine the trim and the rubber seals along windows for signs of paint; an indication of crash-damage repairs. You should also make sure that all rubber seals are intact, as leaks can be costly to remedy.
• Open and close the doors to make sure that they work correctly.
• Check all the locks are in working order.
• Are there any stickers on the windows which may have been put on to cover an old registration number etched onto the glass?