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It always pays for used car buyers to do their homework. Even if a private vendor or motor trader seems trustworthy, there could be a hidden past to the car they are trying to sell.
But rest assured, every Honda Approved Car automatically comes with a comprehensive history check, so drivers can buy the car of their dreams without losing sleep over its past.
However, anyone contemplating buying a used car should still have a good understanding of the checks that reveal whether it’s a star or falls below par. Here’s what to look for:
Once you’ve narrowed down a shortlist of the models you are considering buying, browse classified ads or vehicle manufacturer’s websites, such as Honda Approved Cars, to get a feel for what your budget will afford. Doing this should enable you to work out the cost difference between various engines and trim levels and decide which best meets your needs.
Buying a used car from a franchised car dealer gives you the greatest level of consumer protection. Franchised dealers are authorised by the vehicle manufacturer to trade in its products and services. They hold a wide range of approved-used vehicles that will have undergone a rigorous inspection process.
There are other, less obvious benefits. For example, with approved used cars, Honda dealers offer a 30-day exchange policy should any fault come to light and a 12 month guarantee and roadside assistance package.
Look for the ‘combined mpg’ figure as a general guide. The latest figures, produced using a testing system called WLTP, are more accurate than the old NEDC figures. Reports from owners can also be a useful guide. Road tax
Vehicle Certification Agency’s website) are used to calculate the road tax for cars sold before April 2017. Vehicles first sold after then are charged a flat rate after the first year. Cars with very low CO2 emission are exempt from road tax. You can use the GOV.uk tool to compare the costs.
You can check the MOT history of any car online. Any faults that are cause for concern or, worse still, cause for the car to fail its MOT, are available and free for all to see, by simply entering a car’s registration number. You can also check the mileage at each MOT test, to see if it ties up with the claimed mileage on the car.
Look for the ‘combined mpg’ figure as a general guide. The latest figures, produced using a testing system called WLTP, are more accurate than the old NEDC figures. Reports from owners can also be a useful guide.
Official CO2 emissions figures (see the Vehicle Certification Agency’s website) are used to calculate the road tax for cars sold before April 2017. Vehicles first sold after then are charged a flat rate after the first year. Cars with very low CO2 emission are exempt from road tax. You can use the GOV.uk tool to compare the costs.
Gather insurance quotes to compare your shortlisted cars. You might be surprised that cars with similar values and engine sizes can vary considerably in their annual insurance costs. The quickest way is to use a price comparison website. Many franchised dealers may also offer their own insurance packages with some additional benefits, so it’s worth asking them what they offer.
Then check with the vendor that the car has comprehensive service history, and what service and work is next due, according to the vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. If a big service is coming up, ask a dealer for a quote so that you know what you are letting yourself in for before you buy the car.
You can check the MOT history of any car online. Any faults that are cause for concern or, worse still, cause for the car to fail its MOT, are available and free for all to see, by simply entering a car’s registration number. You can also check the mileage at each MOT test, to see if it ties up with the claimed mileage on the car.
All cars from late 2015 onwards will meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. For earlier cars, you can check at the Vehicle Certification Agency’s website. This is particularly important if you regularly drive in London, where pre-Euro 6 diesel and pre-Euro 4 petrol cars have to pay an extra charge of £12.50 a day, on top of the Congestion Charge. Other regions are bound to follow suit, so even if this doesn’t matter to you now, it might do in the future.
If you aren’t comfortable inspecting a second-hand car, particularly when you’re buying from a private vendor, have an expert to do it for you. You could arrange to take the car to a local garage and pay a fee (around £100) to have it inspected professionally. Alternatively, the likes of the AA will check over a second-hand car to make sure the ‘one careful owner’ has been as careful as they claim. Honda Approved Cars are subject to a very stringent multi-point check which includes lighting, instruments, steering and suspension, brakes, and even bodywork. There are a detailed engine check and a thorough road test. Any rectifications use genuine Honda parts, fitted by qualified technicians, and then the cars are given an in-depth valet and polish before the sale
Once you’ve test-driven the car (see our guide to getting the most from a test drive), ask to see the car’s accompanying paperwork, including the V5C vehicle registration document. Make sure they’re originals – but note that MOT certificates are now computer printouts, so it’s best to check the MOT history online.
Ensure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the V5C and MOT certificates matches the one on the car. On many cars, you can locate the vehicle identification number in the bottom right-hand corner of the windscreen (as you look from the front of the car) and often also on a plaque under the bonnet or in one of the door jambs. The name and address of the recorded keeper on the V5C will probably be those of the vendor, but the keeper is not necessarily the legal owner.
Ideally the previous owners of a car will have lavished it with care and attention. So look through the service book to see that it’s up to date with no glaring gaps, check accompanying invoices and also nose through past MOT certificates. A Honda dealer will present all this and will have verified the car’s recorded mileage for you. But if buying from a private vendor, the objective is to try and tally the mileage with its service history and MOT certificates.
Honda approved cars come with a data check for total peace of mind. It confirms, among other things, that the car hasn’t been crashed and deemed beyond safe repair, there’s no outstanding finance, and the car isn’t stolen or cloned.
If buying from a private vendor, or independent trader, it’s possible to pay a modest fee (between £10 and £20) for a data check, which will be worth its weight in gold.
Buy from a private vendor, and you’re unlikely to get a warranty on the car, though you can buy one from a specialist provider (costs start around £200). Most used cars from dealers will come with some form of warranty, with the period varying from dealer to dealer. Approved used cars from franchised dealers generally have the longest warranties.
The finance products available for Honda Approved used cars are similar to those that are available for new Honda cars. Honda Financial Services offers flexible finance packages, including its competitive Personal Contract Purchase and Hire Purchase products, which can be tailored to suit your monthly budget requirements.
You pay a deposit, choose the length of the agreement (between one and five years) to suit your monthly budget and then pay a fixed monthly payment. Once you’ve reached the end of your finance agreement and paid all your monthly payments, you own the car.
You pay a deposit, estimate how many miles you will drive each year, consider how long you would like your agreement to run (between two and four years) and Honda Financial Services will then calculate a Guaranteed Future Value (GFV), which is the value we predict your car to be worth at the end of your agreement. You then pay a fixed monthly payment, which may be less per month than HP.
Once you’ve reached the end of your finance agreement, you have three options available:
In case something does go wrong with your new purchase, it’s a good idea to arrange roadside assistance cover. Some insurers provide this as part of a car policy, or you can go to a specialist like the AA.
Honda Approved Cars have peace of mind built-in with 12 months Hondacare Assistance which covers you at home or on the road, in the UK and Europe. Recovery is also included, so if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, you, your vehicle, and up to four passengers, can be transported to any single mainland UK destination.