1.    Check the current market value for the vehicle. There are guidebooks available from most newsagents that list the makes and models for almost all cars, and give an approximate value with relation to age.

2.    Check the body work. Is there any corrosion or rust? Is the color mismatched in any place? Use a magnet to see if the body is actual metal or putty which is often used in vehicle restoration. Make sure any corrosion is cosmetic rather than structural.

3.    Look at the general state of the engine. Check the color of the oil and coolant. Are there any thick black deposits? (Which is not a good sign)? Also check the mileage.

4.    do a background search, and check its history – where the car has come from. How many accidents it has been involved in?