An advert may omit maintenance, repairs, accident history or ownership details. Ask specific questions and request supporting records. Hesitation or an incomplete answer is not proof of dishonesty. Compare answers with the documents and an independent inspection, and pause when an important issue cannot be clarified.
For buyers preparing questions about a used-car advert or following up after an inspection. The aim is to record what the seller says, what supports it and what you still need to clarify.
Start with the gaps in the advert
Save the advert and list what it leaves unanswered. Ask the relevant questions below before travelling, then revisit the answers beside the car. Keep “seller says”, “record supplied” and “still unknown” separate in your notes.
Questions to ask, records to request and follow-up
Ask: “Who is selling the car, and what shows their authority to sell it?”
Supporting record: Ask to see the seller identity and vehicle documents relevant to their answer.
Next question: “Can you explain any difference between the names or vehicle details in those records?” Keep unexplained differences on your follow-up list.
Ask: “What service history do you have, and are there gaps in the records?”
Supporting record: Request the available service book entries and invoices. Note which records you actually receive.
Next question: “Is there a record for the period or work we have not accounted for?” If there is no record, note that the detail remains unconfirmed.
Ask: “What repairs, accidents or recurring concerns are you aware of?”
Supporting record: Ask for any available repair invoices or other records supporting the answer.
Next question: “What work was done, and is anything still unresolved?” Pass concerns needing assessment to an independent mechanic; do not diagnose them from the seller's description.
Ask: “Which faults, worn items or features should I check when I see the car?”
Supporting record: Keep the seller's description alongside your own inspection notes and any existing assessment or quote they provide.
Next question: “Can we check that feature, or arrange an independent assessment of the concern?” Leave anything you have not tested clearly marked as untested.
Ask: “Can we agree a time for an independent inspection and discuss a permitted test drive?”
Supporting record: Keep the agreed arrangements and note what the inspection or drive will leave unchecked.
Next question: “How can I resolve the checks that cannot be completed at that time?” If an important question remains unanswered, pause your decision.
Use the answers to choose the next check
An answer is a starting point for checking a claim. For each question, record the seller's response, the supporting record supplied and the next action. An absent record leaves uncertainty; it does not establish that the seller is dishonest.
Once you have relevant advert and condition evidence, use the guide to preparing a used-car offer to organise your own price discussion.
Questions buyers ask
What questions should I ask when buying a used car?
Ask about the seller's authority, service history, known repairs or concerns, features to check and arrangements for an independent inspection. Request records that support each answer. Write down any gaps and your next question, and pause when an important issue cannot be clarified.
Use the free listing check to organise evidence. The planned Listing Review is intended to use pasted advert text and your concerns; it would not verify those claims.