If the car passes its 10 QUICK CHECKS, spend an hour or so on these detailed checks, followed by a test drive. Wear old clothes and take a torch to probe the recesses of engine bay and underbody. And don't be afraid to ask the seller to show you how equipment works.

DIY Inspection of Paint and Bodywork:

• Don't check under artificial lighting or in the wet.
• Are gaps between doors/boot/bonnet and bodywork neat and even? Any problems opening doors/boot/bonnet?
• Look down sides of car against the light. Do panels look wavy or rippled, bulge out or dish in?
• Are any panels brighter/duller than others, indicating a respray?
• Any sign of 'overspray' paint on rubber seals or trim raises doubts.
• Tiny 'star' or 'spider web' cracks in paintwork point to crash damage.
• Do plastic bumpers and spoilers fit closely and evenly? Any damage?
• Is any chrome or plastic exterior trim loose or missing?
• Any signs of bubbling paintwork or rust in welded seams?
• Has stone-chipping damaged paintwork at the front of the car?

Exterior Checks Including Wheels and Shock Absorbers:

• Check wheel alignment. Are front and rear wheels in line with each other, and also with the wheel-arches and bodyshell?
• Inspect lights and lenses for cracks, condensation or damage to reflector surfaces.
• Check windscreen for cracks and stone impacts, especially in the driver's field of vision.
• Test shock absorbers. Press down hard four or five times on each corner in turn; an effective shock absorber will damp movement in after one or two 'bounces'.
• Check out alloy wheels for cracks and scars from kerb damage.
• Is any plastic or rubber exterior trim loose or missing?

Checking The Car's Tyres:

• Check all tyres, including the spare
• Minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm over at least 75 per cent of the tread surface.
• Check tyres are of the same size, profile and speed rating, i.e. they carry the same code on the sidewall. Any difference between front and rear (occasionally on sports model), check it's manufacturer specification.
• Look and feel for splits, grazes, bulges and embedded objects - on the inside of the tyres, too.
• Heavy wear towards edges of tyres indicates steering/suspension problems.
• Deduct cost of replacing worn/damaged tyres from the asking price.