Before you travel to collect it
- Confirm exactly where and when collection will happen. Ask whether there is a firm deadline, particularly with an auction or storage yard.
- Check the vehicle details. Make, model, registration and VIN should agree with the advert and paperwork.
- Decide how you will insure it. If using temporary cover, obtain the quotation early and check that you and the vehicle are eligible.
- Check MOT status online. Also read the MOT history for repeated advisories that may need attention.
- Plan the tax. Vehicle tax cannot simply be transferred from the previous keeper.
- Arrange a lift or public transport. Avoid leaving yourself dependent on driving the car if a final check reveals a problem.
At the car, before payment
Check the seller’s identity and address against the information available to you. Inspect the V5C, but remember that a logbook is not proof of ownership. Compare its registration and VIN with the car. If the details do not make sense, do not let the pressure of a return journey hurry you.
Look for warning lights, fluid leaks, damaged tyres and signs that the car has changed since you viewed or agreed to buy it. A valid MOT is a minimum legal check at one point in time; it does not guarantee the present condition.
Before moving onto the road
01 Confirm your insurance has actually started.
02 Tax the vehicle in your name.
03 Save or print the insurance confirmation.
04 Put the correct destination into navigation while parked.
05 Adjust the seat, mirrors and steering position.
06 Locate lights, wipers, demister and hazard switch.
Still need cover for collection?
You can request a short-term insurance quotation from our insurance partner. Buying is optional and cover is not guaranteed.
Get a short-term quote →Provided by Ramasis Limited. Terms, eligibility and payment apply. We may receive commission at no extra cost to you.
For the journey itself
Take the first few miles gently. An unfamiliar clutch, brakes, visibility or driver-assistance system can feel quite different from your usual car. If a warning light appears, the steering pulls, the brakes feel wrong or a tyre-pressure warning persists, stop somewhere safe and investigate. Do not press on simply because you have paid for the car.
For a long collection, allow time for a break and check the weather and traffic before leaving. If the car does not seem roadworthy, use recovery or professional transport instead.