What should I look for when buying my first car?
Buying your first car is one of life’s most exciting moments, but what should you look for during the process?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 11 August 2025 | 1 min read
Buying your first car is one of the most exciting moments in your driving career.
Many of us take to the road when we turn 17 years old, but getting the set of wheels that we dream of is easier said than done.
There are many hurdles to climb in getting any car at the age of 17, with a lot of boxes to tick, including running costs, prices and simple checks to make.
So, if you’re in the market for buying your first car, what should you be looking at? Well, we’ve compiled a checklist of everything you need to do to get your perfect set of first wheels.
Stick to small hatchbacks
They may not be to everyone’s liking, but small hatchbacks are the best choice when it comes to first cars.
Vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo are easy to drive, easy to park and don’t come with powerful engines. Plus, there are plenty of second-hand examples available on Cazoo.
In order to build up your driving experience, you need a car that is going to get to your destination with no dramas and will limit your risk of being involved in an accident.
There are plenty of small hatchbacks on the second-hand market, with five-year-old Ford Fiestas priced from £8,800 with 50,000 miles on the clock. However, older examples from 2018 with low mileage can be yours for as little as £6,000.
Volkswagen Polos on the other hand are a little more expensive with 2018 cars priced from £9,800 and five-year-old examples bump prices up to £11,000.
Search for used superminis on Cazoo
Has it got any service history?
Never buy a car without any service history, as it can tell a lot about how a car has been treated in its life.
Not every car will have a full service record, but those that do will give you an indication that the car has been mechanically well-maintained and should prove a lot more reliable on a day-to-day basis.
An added bonus is if the vehicle comes with receipts and invoices, as this will tell you about any of the work that has been carried out in its life. The more paperwork that comes with the car, the higher the chance that the vehicle has been cherished by its former owners.
A vehicle with no service history indicates that a car has been neglected and shouldn’t even be considered, as you need a car that is going to be reliable.
Check the condition of the bodywork
Always check a vehicle’s bodywork for previous accident damage, dents, scratches and misaligned panel gaps.
All second-hand cars will come with a past – both good and bad – but there are some telltale signs that need to be taken seriously if you spot something on its bodywork.
Look for mismatch paint colours, as this could be a sign that the car has had previous paintwork repairs. Check the finish of the paint too, if it has an ‘orange peel’ look, has lots of overspray and dirt particles in the lacquer, this shows you that the car has had a respray.
However, just because a vehicle has been painted, it doesn’t mean it’s been involved in an accident. It could just be where a previous owner has caught a post, wall, or someone may have keyed it through vandalism.
Small dents and scratches are to be expected through daily use but the less of them that there are reflects how well a car has been cared for.
Make sure it’s got a clean MOT history
A car in the UK will need an MOT test once a year, after it turns three years old.
It’s a roadworthiness test to check to see if the vehicle complies with safety standards to drive on our roads. The test will check the condition of a vehicle's mechanical components, the structural rigidity, electrics and tyres.
If a vehicle fails, it will not be allowed to be driven until the defects have been rectified.
The Department for Transport (DfT) website allows you to check a car’s MOT history by simply typing in its registration number. However, if you find the vehicle has failed numerous times, plus there are some ‘advisory’ defects, it shows you that the car has not been loved and has been run on a tight budget.
These types of cars are best avoided as they could potentially be dangerous and might need a lot of money spent on them in the future to keep them on the road.
How safe is it?
Modern cars are tested for safety through the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
Cars are tested to see how safe they are in frontal impacts, side collisions and how accurate their on-board safety technology is.
All cars will be given a star rating to see how they’ve fared, with five stars the safest and one or lower marked as 'dangerous'. The vehicles are analysed to see how they stack up to adult protection, child protection and pedestrians too.
Most modern cars have received a five-star safety rating; however, if you find yourself buying a second-hand car that has previously been involved in an accident, it could be weaker than a non-damaged one.
Great first cars, such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, both received a full five stars when they were tested by Euro NCAP.
Shop around for insurance quotes
Insurance is the biggest hurdle to climb for new drivers as quotes can escalate through the roof.
Never accept the first insurance quote you’re given as companies are constantly changing their policies and price rates. Always shop around for a good deal, as some companies will offer better deals than others.
One way to drastically reduce those high costs is with a black box. It’s a little device that sits either in your car’s engine bay or boot and will record where you go, how fast you drive, and how you turn into corners. It doesn’t sound like fun, but it can reduce your next insurance renewal costs and will allow you to build up your no-claims bonus a lot quicker.
Do a vehicle history check
There are several vehicle history check companies out there that provide detailed services to prevent you from buying a dodgy second-hand car.
Companies such as Hire Purchase Information (HPI) and CarVertical will charge a small fee, and by simply entering your car's VIN or registration number, they will give you a detailed report on the vehicle’s life.
It will tell you if it’s ever been in a recorded accident, if it’s been stolen, has had a colour change and whether there is any outstanding finance on it.
These simple £15 history checks could save you thousands from buying a second-hand car with a hidden past.
Avoid categorised vehicles
A categorised vehicle is a car that has been written off by the insurance company and then put back together and sold on.
There are two categories of write-off. Category S and category N are marked against a car depending on how badly damaged it is.
Category S is the worst of the two and stands for ‘structural’, but can still be put back on the road, and category N stands for ‘non-structural’ which can be anything from a paint scratch.
If you see a car that is classed as a category C or category D, it’s because they were written off before the system changed. Category C is the old category S and category D is the old category N.
You want to avoid any car that has previously been written-off, as they will be harder to sell on, won't hold their money as well and you’ll never know the quality of the repair that’s been carried out, which always puts a question mark over its structural safety.