If you’re on the hunt for a second hand car, then you’ll want reassurance that any car you buy will be as safe and reliable as possible – particularly if you’re buying a car for your child.
In this post we’ll discuss how you can check how many previous owners a car has, and what this might tell you about the car’s condition and reliability. We’ll also explore some other essential checks you should make when shopping around for a second hand car.
How To Check a Car’s History
There are a couple of ways to check how many previous owners a car’s had:
- Check the vehicle’s logbook. A car’s logbook – also known as a V5C – will show the current and previous owner’s details with a number of total owners of the vehicle.
- Look online. Numerous online resources can consult the DVLA’s record for any car. Just enter the vehicle registration and you’re good to go. Often, these services will give you some essential information about the car for free. But for more detailed information – such as a list of previous owners – you may have to pay a small fee.
How Many Previous Owners is Too Many?
It all depends on how old the car is, and how many different keepers it’s had in that time.
Say you buy a second-hand car that was first registered in 2010. Having looked up the car’s history, you see that it’s had three registered keepers over the years, with each owner keeping hold of the car for four or five years each.
With this sort of history, it’s very likely that the car’s received a good standard of maintenance and care over the years. For total peace of mind, check the car’s MOT history. This should let you know of any potential issues you may eventually need to address. But if the car passed its most recent MOT, then you can rest assured that it’s safe to drive!
What If a Second-Hand Car Has Had Lots of Owners?
If a car has swapped owners repeatedly over the years, then it might not have received the same level of care and maintenance. Some of its owners may have been less scrupulous or careful than others and some may have skipped essential services and other routine checkups.
Again, if the car’s passed its MOT, then it should be fine to drive. But if you buy a second hand car that’s had more owners than you may expect, book it in for a full service as soon as you can. This will help you ensure that everything’s working like it should, and you’ll be able to deal with any potential issues long before they get really serious.
Buying a Second Hand Car? Make Sure You Know What You’re Getting
If you’re a new driver and you’re looking to buy your first car, buying second hand can be your most affordable option.
You’ll find multiple guides on our site to help you understand what to look for when buying your second hand car:
- The Essential Used Car Checklist – Including the best place to buy used cars, how to check a used car’s performance, how to calculate a car’s running costs, and more.
- 20 Essential Questions to Ask When Buying a Car – Whether you’re buying from a private seller or a dealership, these questions will help you ensure that you know everything you need to know before you agree to buy.
- What’s a Good MPG for a Second Hand Car? A short guide to what counts as a “good” MPG, and how working this out will help you understand a car’s ongoing running costs.
- First Car Budget – Key things to consider when saving for your first car.
One last thing to remember: If you’re looking to buy your first car, you might also have to think about car insurance for the first time in your life.
At Go Girl, we specialise in giving new drivers comprehensive insurance at an affordable price. Head here to get a quote online in minutes.
