Inspect the seatbelts - If you drive or travel in a car without working seatbelts, you could be liable to pay a seatbelt fine. If they are below 3mm, we would recommend getting them replaced soon, if you decide to purchase the vehicle. Test all lights and indictors - Do they all work correctly?Ĭheck the tyres - Check the tyres are above the minimum legal tyre tread depth limit of 1.6mm. However, if you see blue smoke, this could hint at oil-burning issues.
In colder weather, you may observe what appears to be white smoke (but is actually steam). Ask the seller if you can observe the exhaust emissions. More severe damage to the bodywork may hint at structural damage, which could also mean the vehicle is unsafe to drive.Ĭheck the exhaust pipe - The exhaust pipe should be firm and supported. If there is corrosion or rust in certain prescribed areas, this may also cause the vehicle to fail its next MOT test, so beware!Ĭheck out the bodywork - Take a good look around the bodywork, as any dents and scratches will reduce the vehicle’s value.
Pay close attention to any plastic coverings on the arches and sills, which may conceal developing rust. You should check for rust around the wheel arches, sill edges and the underside of the vehicle. Bear in mind that any level of rust will also affect a car’s value. This tool will show you the outcomes of any previous MOT tests, including any faults and advisories highlighted.Ĭheck for rust - Severe rust is a sign of corroded metal and if present may weaken the car’s structural integrity.Īlthough a small amount of rust does not present a significant issue, anything more than light pitting or surface-level rust can be considered too much rust. You can check the vehicle’s MOT status by entering its registration number into our free MOT check tool. When the logbook is missing, it is more difficult to determine whether a vehicle has been stolen, has an insurance write-off category – or whether the seller is legally entitled to sell it. When transferring ownership of the vehicle, the seller should detach the ‘new keeper slip’ in this document to give to the new owner, who should complete and send it to the DVLA in order to register the vehicle in their name.Īlthough there are no laws against selling a car without a V5C logbook, the DVLA advises against buying one. This document contains key information about the vehicle and was issued by the DVLA when it was registered. V5C logbook and MOT certificate - Ask the seller to show you the vehicle’s V5C logbook. However, don’t give up – you may be able to turn detective and piece together the car’s missing service history. It is not uncommon for part (or all) of the service history to be misplaced, particularly with older used vehicles. A full service history will give you the assurance that the car has been regularly serviced, in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Learning to drive bigger vehicles (lorries, buses etc.) is different again: you need to be 21 or over, and already hold a full licence for a car before you can take your LGV (large goods vehicle) or PCV (passenger carrying vehicle) test.Service history - Ask the seller to show you the car’s service history. This is mainly because mopeds and scooters rarely exceed 30mph, of course… but we’re not picky. If you want to drive a moped or scooter, then you can apply for your licence, learn and qualify from age 16. If you’re looking to drive something a little different, though, different age limits will apply. It’s fast, takes passengers (or copious amounts of luggage) and is quite a good all-rounder in terms of practicality. But for the majority, 17 is the age at which you’ll fill out your form, send off your pictures and cheque, and receive your shiny green card.
For those of you who simply can’t wait to get behind the wheel, this speeds up the learning process considerably. Technically, though, as the DVLA can issue your licence on the actual date of your birthday, you can send off your application while you’re still 16. This is a bit misleading, as by the time you’ve learned to drive, you’ll be a good few months older rather, 17 is simply the age at which you can begin to learn to drive.ġ7 is, however, also the age at which you can first apply for your provisional licence. legal age for supervising a learner driverĮveryone knows that the minimum age for driving a car is 17 years.driving age for driving a car on public roads.What's the minimum age barrier for driving a car