Registration Document
Ask to see the registration document/certificate (V5C). If the seller doesn't have one - walk away! Check the car number plate matches what's on the document. Also check the vehicle identification (VIN) number matches the number on a small metal plaque under the bonnet. Check that the person selling the car is the current registered owner.
MOT Certificate
Every car that is over three years old requires a valid MOT. If a certificate is about to run out (they are valid for a year), ask the seller to retest the car. If you get it retested yourself, not only will you have to cough up the test fee (£50.35 max at the time of writing for a car that seats up to eight passengers), should the car fail you will also have to pay to make the car roadworthy.
Note: An MOT certificate does not guarantee that a car is roadworthy, merely that the car was roadworthy enough to pass the test on the day it was submitted.
Tax Disc
Have a look at the tax disc to see when the tax runs out. Also check that the vehicle registration shown on the disc matches the number plate on the car. If the tax is about to run out, you could use this as a bargaining chip to get a discount off the asking price.
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