A dealer forecourt feels safer than a private sale, but "safer" isn't the same as "no checks needed." Here's the full list before the card gets tapped.
1. The advertised price is rarely the price you pay
Dealer listings can include admin fees, preparation fees, delivery charges, and add-ons like paint protection or extended warranties bundled into the headline figure. Ask for a full written breakdown — the "on-the-road" price — before you commit, and treat any reluctance to itemise it as a warning sign.
2. MOT and mileage history — free, and non-negotiable
The free MOT history check on gov.uk shows every past test result, advisories, failures, and the mileage recorded at each test. Cross-reference the mileage progression: a car that suddenly shows fewer miles than a previous test, or unusually large jumps, is a mileage-tampering red flag worth walking away from.
3. Outstanding finance and write-off status
A car can look completely normal and still have finance owed on it by the previous keeper, or carry a write-off marker (Category A/B/S/N) from a past insurance claim. A vehicle history check (commonly branded HPI, though several providers offer the same underlying data) covers this — a dealer refusing to let you see one, or refusing to provide the registration number in advance so you can run your own, is a serious red flag.
4. Warranty terms — read before you sign, not after
Ask exactly what the warranty covers, for how long, whether it's underwritten by a third party or the dealer itself, and what's explicitly excluded (wear items, pre-existing conditions). This sits on top of — not instead of — your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
5. Dealer identity and the written contract
Confirm the dealer is a registered trading entity (not a private seller posing as a trade seller to dodge consumer protections — a known practice called "curb-crawling" or "curbsiding"). Get everything — price, mileage, condition claims, warranty terms — in the written sale document, not just verbally promised on the forecourt.
See also: buying in Australia instead? See the checks that apply there.
Sources
- gov.uk — Check the MOT history of a vehicle
- gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015 guidance
- gov.uk — Vehicle write-off categories
Related Kibbo Tools
- Car Dealer Purchase Checklist — every check in this article, in one printable sequence.
- Used Car Buying Inspection Checklist — the physical inspection to run alongside the paperwork checks.