Tips to ensure a cheap car is safe to buy

More people are looking at buying a used car these days, simply for financial reasons - and there is no doubt that it does present a more cost-effective option. However, there are things anyone looking to secure a reliable vehicle cheaply should look into before actually investing in a used car.


Firstly take a good look at the tyres, examining the tread and the walls thoroughly.You should look for over 2 mm tread covering the whole of all of the tyres, in order to be sure that they are safe to drive on. This is very important as tyres with insufficient tread can be very dangerous for you, any passengers, other motorists and pedestrians -particularly in wet weather, when the road surfaces are slippery. Furthermore, uneven tread levels can offer a clue to other mechanical safety issues with the car.


These include problems with suspension, brakes or steering. To check the suspension on the car, you should ideally press down on the car at the four ends, which enables you to test the shock absorbers. If they are working correctly, the car should bounce back past the normal position once only. When it comes to the brakes, test them to make sure that they provide adequate resistance and that the car does not judder or veer when you apply them. The steering should be tested to make sure that there isn’t a delay between moving the steering wheel and the road wheels moving. Ideally the car should always be test driven -with someone knowledgeable about signs to look for - before you agree to buy.

If you are unsure about the safety issues to look out for when trying out a used car, companies such as www.Motors.co.uk offer cars for sale from used car dealers who have had their prior trading history thoroughly investigated.