VT V.T. Motors 01 847 5146
BUYING · 9 min read · Updated April 2026 · Workshop team, V.T. Motors

Buying a used car in Ireland: 50-point checklist

What to check before you sign, with the same 50-point list our pre-purchase inspection follows.

A used car can hide €5,000 of problems behind a clean bodywork and a polished dashboard. Our pre-purchase inspection follows a 50-point list — here’s the same list in plain English, so you can do an initial pass before you call us.

Walk-around (8 points)

  1. Tyre condition — tread depth on inner and outer edge, sidewall damage
  2. Body panel gaps — uneven gaps suggest an accident repair
  3. Paint colour match across panels — re-spray after damage
  4. Wheel arch corrosion — common on Irish-coastal cars
  5. Sills and floor pans — lift the carpets if you can
  6. Underneath the car — exhaust, sub-frame, brake lines (corrosion)
  7. Wheel-bearing test — rock the wheel by hand at 12 and 6 o’clock
  8. Suspension bounce test — shocks should rebound once and stop

Under the bonnet (8 points)

  1. Oil cap — milky residue means head gasket failure
  2. Coolant colour — should be clean, not brown or rusty
  3. Drive belts — fraying or cracking
  4. Wiring tape repairs — sign of accident damage or rodent damage
  5. Battery age (DOT date code)
  6. Engine bay corrosion — under battery tray, around brake reservoir
  7. Visible oil leaks — drips on the underside, on the engine
  8. Service history sticker on the cam cover

Cabin (8 points)

  1. Mileage matches the dashboard, the service book, and the recent MOT/NCT history
  2. Seat belt wear (vs claimed mileage)
  3. Pedal rubber wear (vs claimed mileage)
  4. Steering wheel wear
  5. All electrical functions — windows, mirrors, central locking, seat heaters, AC
  6. Dashboard warning lights — start engine and check none stay on
  7. Heating and AC — both must work
  8. Carpet under the spare wheel — should be dry, not stained

Test drive (10 points)

  1. Cold start — should fire first time without cranking
  2. Idle — should be smooth and quiet
  3. Pull away in 1st — clutch biting point and any judder
  4. Acceleration — clutch slipping, gearbox shift quality
  5. Brakes — even pull, no pull to one side
  6. Hand-brake hill hold
  7. Steering — pulls or vibrations at speed
  8. Suspension knocks over speed bumps
  9. Engine warning light or DPF light during drive
  10. Cabin noise — wheel bearings, exhaust, wind noise

Documentation (8 points)

  1. V5 logbook (Irish: VRC)
  2. Service history — book stamps or dealer printouts
  3. NCT certificate (in date)
  4. Tax disc / motor tax in date
  5. Any outstanding finance check (HPI / Cartell)
  6. Number of previous owners
  7. Previous owner location — coastal cars rust faster
  8. Receipts for major work (timing belt, clutch)

Diagnostic scan (8 points — we do this for you)

  1. OBD-II for stored fault codes
  2. Live data — coolant temp, fuel trims, MAF reading
  3. DPF soot load and ash load (diesels)
  4. Lambda sensor function (petrols)
  5. Battery state of health
  6. ABS / airbag / SRS module check
  7. Number of permanent fault codes
  8. Mileage corroboration (where the ECU stores it)

What V.T. Motors charges

Pre-purchase inspection — from €120 all 50 points, printed report, written verdict. We meet you at the seller (dealer or private), Northside Dublin only.

Phone 01 847 5146 to book.