Start with the right vehicle
Ask the seller for the registration, make and model, and compare the details with the official records. GOV.UK's used-vehicle guidance also explains the checks to make on the registration document and vehicle identity. Keep a mismatch as an unanswered question until it is resolved.
Read the timeline, not just the latest pass
The official MOT history shows dated results, recorded test mileage and the next due date where available. Look at the date beside each finding and ask about work carried out afterwards. A gap or an unusual mileage entry is a reason to ask for evidence, not proof of the cause by itself.
Ask useful questions about old findings
For a repeated tyre, brake or suspension note, ask what was checked or repaired and when. Compare the answer with any invoice the seller can provide. Keep current symptoms separate from historic records, and do not assume an old advisory is still present or that a later pass proves every concern has been resolved.
Separate history, condition and value
Turner Brothers’ vehicle-appraisal price is £65 including VAT, with scope and arrangements to confirm before booking. An appraisal is separate from a market valuation, MOT and finance or provenance check. If a particular concern matters to the purchase, ask whether the proposed appraisal addresses it before relying on the result.