If you are in the market for a used car, then you need the reassurance that the car is safe and road legal. Here are three simple checks that can help you in finding the right second hand car for you. Mileage Does the mileage, age, and appearance of the car look consistent?  For example, if the car that looks like it is from the early 2000’s with less than 30,000 miles on the dashboard, it would suggest that either it was very rarely driven or more likely that someone has altered the clock. To be extra vigilant look for any signs like worn screws that the instruments might have been tampered with (Digital odometers can be tampered with electronically so clues like this won’t exist). You can also check the recorded mileage on service records, MOT ‘certificates’ and other documents. Get a car check One in three used cars on the market has something to hide, from an insurance write-off, to a mileage discrepancy. A quarter of used cars have had their numbers plate changed, and there are also 200,000 stolen logbooks in circulation in the UK. So before start the payment process of buying a used car you need to get it checked, but not all car history checks are created equally. The HPI Check is a fully comprehensive car history check, arming you with vital information about the car you want to buy, to protect you from motoring scams and fraud. Test drive When you are taking the car you are thinking of buying for a test drive, there are also checks you can do yourself when driving. For example, do all the warning lights operate normally? Are the brakes effective or does it take a long time or a lot of effort to stop? Any unusual noises when you brake? Is the handbrake effective? Any steering vibration or pull to one side? If you are unsure about any of these functions of the car then it is advised to look somewhere else.  So before you spend potentially thousands of pounds on a new used-car, make sure you have carried out those simple tests to make sure you won’t be left with an unsafe and unreliable car and leaving yourself out of pocket.