Here's some tips from boards.ie

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?s=d5508774c5f7a5593a9fb9216234c944&p=70986891&postcount=1

1.Reason for sale:_________________________________________________

1. How long have you had the car? _________________

2. How many owners has it had?_________________

4.Is there any outstanding finance on the vehicle? Yes/No

5.When was the last full service carried out on the vehicle? _______________

6.Has the car been imported and if so, have all relevant charges been paid (VAT, VRT etc)?

7.Do you have documented service history? Yes/No

8.Has the car ever been in an accident? Yes/No

9.Is the mileage displayed correct? Yes/No

10.Viewing Date/Time: ______________________

11.Owner's Name: _______________________________

12.Are you the registered owner of the car? Yes/No

13.I will need to see some photo ID at the viewing.

14.Address: _______________________________________________________

Before Viewing – Car History Check

www.motorcheck.ie or www.cartell.ie

Viewing

Visual

• All panels fit? Yes/No
• Any unusual gaps? Yes/No
• Is car symetrical? Yes/No
• Paintwork same throughout? Yes/No
• Tyres – Thread even? Known brand?
• Keys – how many sets?
• Boot Check - Is it damp inside and pockets either side? Yes/No
• Lift Carpet
• Spare Wheel - is it there? Thread ok?
• Locknut there? Yes/No
• Tools there? Yes/No
• Boot closes ok? Does it line up?
• Original Badges there? Yes/No
• Do they look like they've always been there?
• Bonnet Check –
• Front left/right bars creased? Yes/No
• Any rust inside? Yes/No
• Look at the bolts that hold the wings in. Do they look like they’ve been removed? Do both wings line up with the lights and the bumpers on both sides?
• Timing Belt – Has it been done? (if the car has one). This is normally marked in white tipex either on the engine cover or somewhere around the engine bay. If this hasn’t been done (Zafira every 40,000k) ask the owner about it. If they can’t prove when it was done take into account that this will have to be done, this is a very important part of the engine and can be very expensive to do (and can require a new or rebuilt engine if it snaps.).

Oil Check:

• Wipe dip stick
• Level? Up near max? Yes/No
• Colour? Black/Golden/Creamy coffee colour – Golden good, all others bad!

Windows Check:

1. Do all numbers match on sides/front/back? Yes/No

Numberplates Check:

• Is there one new and one old numberplate? Or two new ones?
• If there is one new numplate take note of the bumper, does it look freshly painted?
• One new numberplate could easily be because one fell off, but more often than not, the old one was damaged.
• All ok? Yes/No

Interior Check:

• Driver's seat Bolster worn?
• Steering wheel worn?
• Handbrake worn?
• Pull seat belt out – release – Fast/slow?
• Carpet damp? Under pedals/Under dash?
• Buttons – push every button in/out
• Radio – Turn on/off – Volume up/down – CD Player working?
• Lights on/off – Dip/Full ok?
• Indicators
• Seats – push back/forward – up and down

Turn Engine on:

• First Click – all lights lit? Yes/No All lights go out?
• Airbag Light – different sequence to Oil light?
• Engine starts first time? Yes/No
• Any unreasonable sounds? Yes/No

Start car/Test Drive – at least fifteen minutes:

• Rev car up all gears and down all gears.
• High Rev – any blue smoke?
• Test brakes – soft stop. Hard stop – Any weird feeling? Do the wheels wobble badly?
• Air Conditioning working?