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MotoPPI blog

Guides, analyses and checklists for people who buy or sell used cars.

Buying a Used Ford Kuga or Vauxhall Mokka: UK Check Guide
Blog 7 min read

Buying a Used Ford Kuga or Vauxhall Mokka: UK Check Guide

A UK buyer's guide to a used Ford Kuga and Vauxhall Mokka: 1.5 EcoBoost coolant intrusion, diesel DPF faults, MOT history, common problems, prices and a checklist.

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Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric: Used Car Guide
7 min read

Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric: Used Car Guide

Petrol vs diesel vs hybrid vs electric on the UK used market: match the engine to your miles, weigh ULEZ and road tax, and know what to check on each type before you buy.

Free GOV.UK Checks vs a Paid HPI Check: What Each Shows
6 min read

Free GOV.UK Checks vs a Paid HPI Check: What Each Shows

Free GOV.UK checks vs a paid HPI check compared: MOT history, DVLA enquiry and tax versus finance, write-off category and stolen markers. When it is worth paying.

Buying a Used BMW 1 or 3 Series: What to Check in the UK
7 min read

Buying a Used BMW 1 or 3 Series: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used BMW 1 Series and 3 Series: N47 diesel timing chain, N13 and N43 petrol faults, ZF automatic, MOT history, common problems and a checklist.

How to Check a Used Car in the UK (Before You Buy)
6 min read

How to Check a Used Car in the UK (Before You Buy)

A step-by-step guide to checking a used car in the UK: MOT history, DVLA enquiry, V5C logbook, VIN, write-off categories and finance before you hand over the money.

Is a PPI Worth It in the UK? Cost vs the Cost of a Bad Buy
6 min read

Is a PPI Worth It in the UK? Cost vs the Cost of a Bad Buy

Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it in the UK? A PPI costs £10 to £150, but clocking, a Cat S write-off or outstanding finance can cost you thousands. The real maths.

How Many Miles Is Too Many on a Used Car?
7 min read

How Many Miles Is Too Many on a Used Car?

How many miles is too many on a used car in the UK? Why average annual mileage beats the total, why low mileage can be a red flag, and how to verify it is genuine.

Buying a Used Mini Cooper: What to Check in the UK
7 min read

Buying a Used Mini Cooper: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used Mini Hatch and Cooper: Prince N14 and N18 timing chain and carbon build-up, Cooper S turbo, MOT history, common faults, prices and a checklist.

Used Car Sales Receipt and Contract: What to Include
7 min read

Used Car Sales Receipt and Contract: What to Include

A used car sales receipt and contract for private UK sales: what to include, a simple template, and why 'sold as seen' matters. Protect both buyer and seller.

Buying a Used Nissan Qashqai: What to Check in the UK
7 min read

Buying a Used Nissan Qashqai: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used Nissan Qashqai J10 and J11: DIG-T timing chain, 1.5 dCi DPF faults, CVT gearbox, MOT history, common problems, prices and a checklist.

Best First Car in the UK: Cheap to Insure and Run
6 min read

Best First Car in the UK: Cheap to Insure and Run

A UK guide to the best first car: what makes a car cheap to insure, sensible small models to shortlist, and how to check a used one before you buy on a budget.

Buying a Used VW Polo: What to Check in the UK
6 min read

Buying a Used VW Polo: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used VW Polo: 1.2 TSI timing chain, 1.0 TSI, 1.6 TDI diesel, DSG faults, MOT history, common problems, prices and a pre-purchase checklist.

Written-Off Car (Cat S/N) Rebuilt: How to Spot One
7 min read

Written-Off Car (Cat S/N) Rebuilt: How to Spot One

How to spot a rebuilt Cat S or Cat N written-off car in the UK: what the categories mean, physical signs of accident repair, and why disclosure and price matter.

V5C Logbook and Paperwork When Buying a Used Car
6 min read

V5C Logbook and Paperwork When Buying a Used Car

What the V5C logbook proves, how to spot a fake or cloned car, and which paperwork to check when buying a used car in the UK, from service history to MOT and finance.

Buying a Used Vauxhall Astra: What to Check in the UK
6 min read

Buying a Used Vauxhall Astra: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used Vauxhall Astra J and K: 1.4 turbo timing chain, 1.6 and 2.0 CDTi diesels, MOT history, common faults, prices and a pre-purchase checklist.

What Used Car for £3,000, £8,000 or £15,000? (UK Guide)
6 min read

What Used Car for £3,000, £8,000 or £15,000? (UK Guide)

What used car can you buy for £3,000, £8,000 or £15,000 in the UK? Realistic models at each budget, what to expect, and the checks that protect your money.

Buying a Used VW Golf: What to Check in the UK
7 min read

Buying a Used VW Golf: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used VW Golf Mk6 and Mk7: TSI timing chain wear, TDI diesels, DSG DQ200 gearbox faults, MOT history, prices and a pre-purchase checklist.

Clocking, Cloning & Outstanding Finance: The UK Big Three
6 min read

Clocking, Cloning & Outstanding Finance: The UK Big Three

The three used-car scams that catch UK buyers: clocking, cloning and outstanding finance. How each works, the warning signs and how to protect yourself before you buy.

Used Car Test Drive: What to Check Before You Buy
6 min read

Used Car Test Drive: What to Check Before You Buy

A UK test drive checklist for used cars: what to check cold, on the move and afterwards, from clutch and brakes to warning lights, so you spot faults before you pay.

Buying a Used Ford Fiesta: What to Check in the UK
8 min read

Buying a Used Ford Fiesta: What to Check in the UK

A UK buyer's guide to a used Ford Fiesta: 1.0 EcoBoost wet belt and coolant faults, 1.25 Ti-VCT, Powershift gearbox, MOT history, prices and a pre-purchase checklist.

Buying a Used Vauxhall Corsa: What to Check Before You Buy
6 min read

Buying a Used Vauxhall Corsa: What to Check Before You Buy

A UK buyer's guide to a used Vauxhall Corsa: MOT history, common faults, paperwork, VIN checks and how to spot a clocked or written-off example before you pay.

Stolen Car Check: How to Verify Before You Buy in the UK
8 min read

Stolen Car Check: How to Verify Before You Buy in the UK

How to run a stolen car check in the UK before you buy: spot cloning, verify the VIN and V5C, watch for dodgy logbook serials and avoid losing car and cash.

Running Costs of a Used Car in the UK: Tax, MOT and Insurance
6 min read

Running Costs of a Used Car in the UK: Tax, MOT and Insurance

Budget the true cost of a used car in the UK: road tax, the MOT test and its £54.85 cap, insurance, servicing, fuel and depreciation, not just the purchase price.

Buying a Used Electric Car in the UK: What to Check
6 min read

Buying a Used Electric Car in the UK: What to Check

A UK guide to buying a used electric car: battery health, charging, running costs, MOT history and the same VIN, finance and write-off checks every used car needs.