By Aoife Byrne
Complete safety checklist before picking up a used car
A practical checklist you can use in one hour, from paperwork and road legality to title checks and test drive basics.
Published 28 July 2026 - 8 min read
A quick buyer-first safety pass
A smooth handover starts before the phone call. Ask for title status, service records, and a written defect disclosure before arranging collection. If a seller cannot answer basic questions, pause and verify through a follow-up message before travel.
What to confirm on collection day
- Registration details match the ad photos and previous listings.
- Service history matches the mileage shown.
- Vigorous test drive: cold start, brakes, indicators, lights and charging.
- Road-legal documents are present before exchanging any cash.
- All photos are reviewed against the item at hand in the same lighting if possible.
Keep communication in localads.ie messages until the transaction is complete. If in doubt, decline and move on; you are always free to walk away.
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