Checklist please for purchasing a car

Hi! I am hoping to buy a car sooner rather than later but I am worried about what I should be looking for/asking.  Yes, I am going automatic because I don't think I can handle the shift stick on the left side....But I know with engine sizes and various other things the language of the cars standards appear to be different than what I am used to.  Granted, I have never been the smartest tool in the shed when it comes to auto mechanics but just want to be sure I don't get screwed.  I know I would like an automatic transmission, diesel (if possible), that is likely to get me around for the next few years while living here.

Also, if anyone should happen to have an autotransmission for sale in the West Midlands area, let me know!!

First thing... it's not called a 'transmission' here... it's a 'gearbox'!

Good luck!

Automatic transmission is much rarer here than in the U.S., and many Brits seem to have an aversion to it, so a diesel automatic is going to limit choice somewhat.

Four-cylinder engines predominate here.   On the displacements, a close-enough conversion for most practical purposes is that 1000 c.c. (1 liter) = 60 cu. in.

If you are buying private It may be worth considering getting a HPI Check done and get the AA or RAC to inspect the car.

I also agree with Paul, Automatic diesels are rare esp in older cars.

other than that I sure its similar to the US.

Good Luck

Sorry, not to sound rude but the responses so far have not been helpful....I know automatic is more rare but I have found plenty for sale.  What I really need help with is what to be looking for on the car itself, what type of place should I buy from, what other expenses should I be prepared for straight off, what types of insurance should I look for and what should I expect for insurance costs?

Thanks for your time, I do appreciate it....but I need some help with the things that I don't know.

But I know with engine sizes and various other things the language of the cars standards appear to be different than what I am used to. 

We told you about engine sizes, and mentioned one of the 'language of cars' differences.

If you *had* asked us originally about where to buy, what expenses to be prepared for,  and what insurance to look for, we probably would have answered those too!

We're not mind-readers!     

I didn't follow up earlier on here as I'm not a great car buyer ... but now that you're a bit more specific in the questions I think I can help with at least some ....

Extra expenses, on an immediate basis, insurance.  Tends to be "comprehensive" which covers you as well as anyone you hit or damage, and "third party, fire and theft" which is the lesser legal minimum and means you pay your own bills.  Also road tax which may run our at any time within the year after you buy (and if you buy from a dealer, they'll probably just have bought 6 months if they've had to buy.   Finally, you would need an MOT certificate if it's over 2 (?) years old - again, an annual payment - a test to pay whenever the current one runs out.

Where to buy from ... well, my personal experience is odd / atypical here (who else has bought an ex-London taxi?).   Probably worth paying to get the AA to give the car a lookover and a bill of health if you're not mechanically minded.

Here's a helpful page from the AA.  Probably more what you were hoping for.

https://www.theaa.com/portal/appmanager/cbg/live?PSESSIONID=C38KZh0hdhd150wuJ2vfyDbk2Ej9EnJT1zWxlmgKZcoCMa0i52Nj!346562656!285204926&PSESSIONID=C38KZh0hdhd150wuJ2vfyDbk2Ej9EnJT1zWxlmgKZcoCMa0i52Nj!346562656!285204926&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=page_advice&adv_1_actionOverride=/pageflow/advice/parentAdvice/begin

 ???Sorry about that mammoth address thingy.  Just click on the just good advise link. 

What I really need help with is what to be looking for on the car itself, what type of place should I buy from, what other expenses should I be prepared for straight off, what types of insurance should I look for and what should I expect for insurance costs?

Ah.... With you now.   

There are a lot of variables.    Are you looking to buy nearly new, or just get something cheap and reliable?    As anywhere, there are plenty of horror stories about back-street used-car dealers and their tricks, but there are decent ones to be found as well.  Recommendations from neighbors, acquaintances, and so on is probably the best bet.     Just as in the States, buying a late-model car from a big dealership will get you more after-sales service and some sort of warranty, but of course you'll pay more.

Buying privately is just the same as anywhere else.  If you're not confident to examine a car and make a reasonable assessment of its condition yourself, you can get one of the motoring organizations (e.g. AA or RAC) to carry out an inspection, at a price.    Failing that, having a mechanically minded friend come along with you is a good idea, and probably the best bet if you're aiming at the low price range where it wouldn't be worth the cost of a full AA/RAC inspection. 

The MoT (Ministry of Transport) certificate is  our vehicle inspection, required annually for all private cars over 3 years old.  A lot of people look for a recent certificate when buying, and most dealers will get a new certificate on vehicles they sell.  Note, though, that although the MoT tests brakes, steering, tires, suspension, and other safety items (plus a whole load of minor inconsequential things as well), the test does not give any indication as to the condition of the engine and transmission (other than they run and the engine passes emissions), so even with a new MoT certificate, those are areas to check on carefully.

How much for insurance is rather like the proverbial "How long is a piece of string?"   

It's affected by age, driving record, how long you've held a license (and more if you don't have a UK license), the type of car, your occupation, the area, and even whether you're single or married (never understood why, but there you go!).   The legal minimum required is for third-party liability, although most people add fire & theft cover as well, the package is then commonly known by the acronym "TPF&T."   

I haven't paid more than £200 for years (last renewal was £180), but I'm on full no-claim discount, held a UK license over 20 years, live in an area which is in the lowest-risk category, and I tend to drive older family cars.    I understand that newly licensed teenage drivers in some cities are well into four-digit premiums.   So insurance costs will be very dependent upon your circumstances.

The "road fund" license (that disk of paper you see stuck inside the corner of the windshield) is an easy one.   Maximum of £165 per year, less if you have a small car or a very new one which is now charged based on the estimated emissions.

When buying at the bottom end of the market, the time left to run on the current license can be a bargaining point, as it can just be transferred to the new owner.   There's no charge to re-register a car to a new owner (at least not yet ).

I think I may have found one...an old trusty Honda (I've already owned two in the last ten years and love them).  It's cheap, it's an automatic....It's all looking good to buy in two days!!! SO, now I know I need to set up the road tax and my insurance.   Should I have all this done tomorrow or am I okay if I buy the car Saturday and get all that done Monday?  I'm still figuring out the exact process to apply for the road tax and how to get the registration in my name.  MOT is good til August so I am good for awhile on that.  I'm just afraid about what my time limits are to get all this done before I get pulled over and arrested.
Am I missing anything?

I need to set up insurance

pay road tax

get registration put in my name
anything else?  get ready to pay for petrol, perhaps....at least I am an "essential car user" for my job so I'll get a little petrol support.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Firtly,check the tax disc,there may still be tax left on it.If there is,get the log book from the seller fill it in and send it off to Swansea,they will then register the car in your name and send a new log book to you,and you can drive the car till the tax runs out.
Insurance,get lots of quotes,you can do it over the phone or go to a local insurance agent if you have one near,as the car is old you would probably be better off with third party fire & theft.Try Churchill,More Than,the AA etc you should get a reasonable quote you can get the phone numbers on the net if you google.

Dave

I'm still figuring out the exact process to apply for the road tax and how to get the registration in my name.  MOT is good til August so I am good for awhile on that.  I'm just afraid about what my time limits are to get all this done

The registration just has to be changed to your name as soon as possible.  Bearing in mind that it's subject to the vagaries of the postal system, nobody is going to worry if it takes a week to get to DVLA (the address is on the registration document). 

The type of registration document will depend upon when the car last changed owners.  If it's the new multi-color document, then you keep the green "New keeper supplement" part as your temporary registration until DVLA get around to sending you a full new registration in your own name (anything from a week to three months). 

To get the road tax, if not already on the vehicle, you will need to take your registration (temporary or otherwise), MoT certificate, and proof of insurance to the post office, or mail them to the appropriate place if you prefer.

The law on insurance here is very strict, and states that you must have a policy which covers you to drive the car.  Period.    Driving with no insurance is considered to be some sort of "absolute offense" for which no mitigating factors will be considered.  They're practically paranoid about it.

As for the time limit on road tax, in the strict legal sense there is none.   If the car is on a public road, it must be taxed, with no period of grace as for getting tags in many U.S. states.    The official position is that if you need to tax a car, you'll have to get the post office by some other method first!     

In practice, most of us just drive to the post office and in the unlikely event of being stopped on that journey, explain the situation, show all the other documents (it helps if you have a check filled out and the license application form as well), and say you're just on your pay to get the tax disc.  So long as the system then shows that a license is actually issued within a few days, it's unlikely anything else will happen. 

It also depends on the area and the sort of cop who stops you of course! 

The one exception to the tax disc requirement is that you can legally drive to or from a booked MoT inspection without one, so long as all your other papers are in order.  As you can't get a tax disc without a current MoT certificate, at least that exemption makes sense.