What to Look for When Buying a Used Car | Insider Checklist – Woodson Cars

Buying used? Don’t buy blind — use our 8-point insider checklist.

Ben (17+ years buying cars) and Jordan (main-dealer prep background) use this before any car goes on sale at Woodson Cars.

1) History & owners

Check V5, owner count and dates.

Red flag: paperwork missing or vague.

2) HPI check

Must confirm not stolen, written off or on finance.

Red flag: seller won’t provide a report.

3) Service history

Regular services and major jobs (belts, fluids).

Tip: history matters more than mileage.

4) MOT history

Look for repeat advisories and corrosion patterns.

Red flag: sudden “perfect” MOT after years of issues.

5) Tyres & brakes

Matching tyres, even wear, no heavily lipped discs.

Red flag: one new tyre hiding a problem.

6) Test drive

Listen for knocks, feel for pulling or vibration.

Red flag: seller won’t let you drive.

7) EV & hybrid checks

Battery health report, charging history, 12V battery.

Red flag: “it’s fine” with no proof.

8) Finance & after-sales

APR, fees, warranty, who helps if there’s a fault.

Red flag: pressure to sign today.

Final rule

If it feels rushed or hidden — walk away.

We use this checklist on every Woodson Cars vehicle so buyers don’t have to guess.