Chief operating office of Citizen's Advice Rural Cambs, Nick Blencowe, gives advice to those considering buying a second-hand car.

For many people, buying a car is a major purchase and whether it’s new or second-hand, the process can seem daunting and complicated.

But don’t worry, there’s lots of information on the steps to take when buying a car and what you can do afterwards if something goes wrong on the Citizens Advice website.

First of all, where are you going to buy the car? If you’re buying from a trader, choose a trustworthy one with an established name and a good reputation. Ideally, they will be part of a trade association or follow the industry’s code of practice.

If you’re buying via an auction, this is much riskier as you’ll have fewer legal protections like the right to returns or refunds so read the terms and conditions before you bid.

If you buy from a private seller, there’s a few extra steps to take. For instance, try to inspect the car at their home address so if something goes wrong later, you have a record of that.

Make sure the car’s details are correct by using the DVLA’s free online vehicle information checker. 

You might also consider getting a private history check to see if the car’s been reported stolen, still has money owing on it, or has been in a serious crash. This will cost about £20.

Check the car during the day when it’s not raining (scratches are harder to see on a wet car) and take it for a test drive for at least 15 minutes.

Often, despite doing all these checks, you might find something wrong with the car after you’ve bought it. For more information, check out the Citizens Advice website or call its consumer helpline on: 0808 223 1133.

Adviceline: 0808 278 7807.