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Never buy a car without a V5

If the owner cannot show you the V5 registration form you should walk away. If it's genuine, the V5 should have with a watermark and match the car registration number, description and chassis number. The VIN plate where the chassis number is printed can be found under the bonnet and is often stamped around the driver's side door or bottom of the windscreen. Check that all the numbers match to ensure you are not buying a stolen car.

Always check the MOT certificate

All cars over three years old require an MOT certificate. You should check that it matches the car details and expires when you expected. You can check online if a certificate is genuine at VOSA but remember that a valid certificate doesn't guarantee that the car is now roadworthy so it may be worth getting a thorough inspection anyway.

Ask for service history

You should always ask to see the car's service records. If you are lucky there will be a full history of receipts and an up-to-date record book full of stamps from reputable garages.

Check the records to see if any work has been done and whether there are any persistent problems. If there are old MOT reports, have a read to check for any warnings or faults that were noted and check that they've now been dealt with.

If the mileage has been recorded on any paperwork such as old MOT certificates, you should check that the miles have increased in a 'normal' way over the years. Most drivers will cover 10,000 miles in a year so if there has been a large increase you can always ask why.

Finally, it's worth checking if the car is under warranty and what exactly is covered.