Buying a used car on the Isle of Wight

There are 1115 cars and vans for sale from 39 island dealers on this site today, at a typical asking price of £9,999. Choice on the island is good, but it isn't endless, so it pays to know what you're looking at. This checklist takes you from setting a budget to driving away, in the order you'll need it.

1. Set the whole budget, not just the price

The price on the windscreen is only part of it. Before you start looking, add up what the car will cost in its first year:

• Insurance. Get quotes on two or three likely cars before you fall for one. The insurance group can matter more than the price, especially for new drivers.
• Road tax. It doesn't move with the car, so you'll tax it yourself before you drive away. Every car page on this site estimates it.
• A cushion for the first service, tyres or brakes. On an older car, £300 to £500 put aside is sensible.

Our guide to what a car really costs to run on the island adds it all up.

2. Pick the right kind of car for island life

Most island trips are short. Newport to Ryde is about seven miles, and few journeys go much past twenty. That shapes what suits you:

• Petrol or hybrid usually beats diesel for short runs. A modern diesel's particulate filter needs regular long drives to clean itself. Why diesels and short trips don't mix.
• Smaller is easier. Narrow lanes, seafront parking and tight town centres favour a compact car.
• An automatic takes the strain out of Ventnor's hills and summer queues. About 40% of island stock is automatic right now. Automatic or manual?

Save the cars you like with the heart and compare them side by side.

3. Read the MOT history before you go

Every car over three years old has a public MOT record on GOV.UK, and car pages on this site show it when the dealer gives us the registration. You're looking for three things:

• Mileage that only goes up, by a steady amount each year. A drop or a long gap needs explaining.
• Advisories that repeat. "Corrosion" on the same part two years running means it's getting worse, not better.
• Failures that were fixed, not just retested somewhere else.

Our guide to reading an MOT history shows what good and bad look like.

4. Look underneath: rust is the island's problem

Salt air and seafront parking are hard on metal, so island cars often show their age underneath first. Surface rust on an older car is normal. Flaking, bubbling or holes are not.

The salt air and rust guide shows exactly where to look and when to walk away.

5. View it in daylight, and start it from cold

• Ask the seller not to run the car before you arrive. A warm engine hides starting problems, smoke and rattles.
• Go in daylight and in the dry. Rain hides scratches, dents and mismatched paint.
• Check the panel gaps and paint. Uneven gaps or overspray on rubber seals point to accident repairs.
• Try every switch. Windows, air conditioning, heated screen, central locking, lights.
• Count the keys. A replacement key can cost £150 to £300.

6. Test drive it on island roads

Plan 20 to 30 minutes and include a hill start, a slow crawl, a stretch at 50mph or more, and some hard (safe) braking. Island hills find a slipping clutch and tired brakes quickly. The test drive checklist has a route plan and what to listen for.

7. Check the paperwork

• The V5C logbook should show the seller's name and address, and its VIN should match the one on the car (base of the windscreen and on a plate in the door frame or under the bonnet).
• A history check (from about £10 to £20 online) shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and stolen markers. Dealers should have done one; ask to see it.
• Service history: stamps or invoices, and proof of a cambelt change if the car is due one. It's one of the most expensive jobs to skip.

8. Agree the price, and the part exchange separately

Get your own car valued before you go, then ask for two prices: the car on its own, and the car with your part exchange. That way a generous-looking trade-in can't hide a full price. Every car page here has a price guide comparing it with similar cars on the island, and shows any price drops. More in part exchange or sell privately?

9. Pay in a way that leaves a record

• Bank transfer or debit card leaves a clear record. Avoid large amounts of cash.
• Paying part on a credit card, even just the deposit, can give you extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for cars costing £100 to £30,000. Some dealers charge a fee or cap card payments, so ask.
• Never pay a deposit on a car you haven't seen, especially to a private seller you can't meet.

If you're thinking about finance, read HP, PCP and loans explained first.

10. Before you drive away

1. Insure itThe car must be insured in your name before it moves.
2. Tax itTax doesn't transfer. Use the new keeper slip (V5C/2) at GOV.UK. It takes five minutes on your phone.
3. Make sure the keeper change is doneA dealer or seller tells DVLA. Your new V5C should come in the post within a few weeks.
4. Keep everythingThe invoice, the advert (a screenshot is fine), warranty terms and any promises in writing. You'll need them if something goes wrong.