There are many things you should ask before purchasing a used car, the majority of the answers to these questions can usually be ascertained before actually visiting the person or the organisation selling the vehicle.
Failing to ask these questions can potentially cause problems for you down the line so follow these top ten tips to buying a used car.

1. How many miles are on the clock? This will help you to determine the value of the car and its best to ask in advance so that you can do your homework and work out if you are getting a good deal.
   There are many websites that can help you determine a cars value a simple search on a major online car sales aggregator can give you a ballpark figure.
   
2. How would you describe the condition of the car? Obviously the best case scenario is that the car is in excellent condition, however if it isn't when you actually view the vehicle its probably best to walk away...
   This question is designed to ascertain whether or not you are dealing with an honest person if they aren't honest before you visit and view the vehicle for sale then they probably wont tell you the whole truth about any aspect.
   
3. Who was this vehicle bought from? Preferably one careful owner but obviously not necessarily always the case, if the vehicle was purchased from a scrap yard its fair to say that the car may have had some major damage even if it looks in pristine condition.
   
4. Where was this car bought? Similar to the question above but more specific, you are trying to ascertain exactly who has owned this car, what its purpose was, family car, commuter etc.
   
5. What kind of oil do you use in the car? You are wanting a quick response for this question any hint of a pause and it's safe to say that the seller either doesn't know or has never maintained the car.
   
6. Why are you selling this vehicle? (if a private sale) Ideally you want the seller to state they have purchased a new car or they are looking to do so.
   In this instance its likely they want to get rid of the car as soon as possible for the additional money and this puts you in a good position to negotiate.
   
7. What are you willing to sell for? Initially this lets the seller know that you are unwilling to purchase the car for the asking price and can lead to a discount, always ask this question!
8. Can I test drive it? Never purchase a used vehicle without test driving it and the longer you can test drive it for the better, I would aim for a minimum of 30 mins on various types of road to give you a good indicator of how the car performs.
   
9. Are you happy for me to get the car tested before I purchase? Its always worthwhile getting the car tested by an expert before parting with your hard earned cash for pretty obvious reasons, if the seller refuses it should be a warning that something is not right.
   
10. What's the last used car you sold? Private sellers sometimes buy cars cheaply and then fix them up for a profit however they may just do enough to make the car run well and then flog them on, be on the lookout for traders who do this as they are non regulated and you will have no protection if the car breaks down 30 miles from the purchase point.
    

Its always best to keep your wits about you when purchasing used cars as the costs for fixing problem cars can spiral, wherever possible make sure you are dealing with honest people by following these top ten tips for purchasing a used car.