ONE careful driver, low mileage, full service history, tax and MoT. A used car that fits this description doesn’t come along very often.

And when it does, you’d be mad not to snap it up. Or would you?

Buying a used car can be risky. After all, how do you know if it’s a “cut-and-shut” just by looking at it?

You can’t, but with advice from the AA you could land yourself a real gem instead of a lemon. Here are some tips depending on where you choose to buy.

Ones to watch out for. Clocking - where the odometer has been wound back on a high-mileage car in order to raise the asking price.

Most cars average 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year. Check that the mileage on the clock roughly ties in with the age and appearance of the car.

The documents offer the only true proof that the car has been clocked. It’s essential to check recent MoT certificates and compare the mileage recorded at those times. If you have any doubts, walk away.

“Cut-and-shut” is when the remains of two or more cars, which have usually been accident-damaged and written off by insurers, are welded together, then illegally given the identity of one of the wrecks.

The most common joins are where the front of one car, from the point at the top of the windscreen, is welded to the back of another.

For absolute confidence, invest in an AA car inspection to check out the mechanical parts and bodywork of the car and a car data check to unearth the car’s history.

Going private:

1. Don’t buy a car on “private sale” terms if you suspect the seller might be a dealer.

2. If you call in response to an advert, say you’re calling “about the car you advertised”. If the seller has to ask which car, they may be a dealer

3. Be wary of adverts quoting mobile numbers or numbers that appear in several ads.

4. Don’t let the owner bring the car to you - view it at their home, in daylight.

5. Does the seller really appear to be the owner?

* Is it their home?

* They should be familiar with the car and its controls

On the forecourt:

On the whole, a dealer with a new-car franchise for the make you’re interested in is probably best, although there are many highly respected used-car dealers around.

1. Choose an established dealership with a good reputation.

2. Check that the extras, such as warranties, are competitively priced.

3. One of the best ways of finding a dealer is through personal recommendation.

4. If you need to borrow part of the amount, don’t automatically take the dealer’s finance. It’s always worth getting alternative quotes.

5. It’s vital to check the warranty.

Surfing the Internet:

Track down the vehicle you want on the Internet, then go to view it in person.

However tempting the offer, don’t rush into making a purchase - you could save yourself a lot of time, trouble and money. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

1. Make notes of what’s on offer; you can use them to compare cars and they’ll give you a written record of what’s been agreed.

2. Make sure that you know exactly who you’re buying from.

3. Read the small print before you click that “buy” button.

Key point: always get confirmation of your order by post, fax or e-mail. Get an order number, the main specifications you’ve ordered, the price agreed and when it should be delivered.

Whatever you do...

Wherever you choose to buy, here are some general tips.

1. Budget well: include the cost of insurance, tax and any work that may be needed.

2. Do your homework: check price guides and compare similar cars in the classifieds so you know as much as you can about the value of different cars.

3. Never view a car in the rain, in poor light or at night.

4. Ask about the car’s service history. Check documentation, including current and previous MoTs.

5. Insist on seeing the V5 vehicle registration document: it shows the registered keeper and NOT the legal owner. Check the name of the present keeper. Is the seller the registered keeper? If not, why are they selling it for someone else?

6. Check the seller has a current MoT certificate and insurance. If the car is three years old or more, make sure there’s a continuous series of annual MOT certificates.

To avoid making a mistake when you buy a used car get a car inspection and/or an AA car data check.

Whatever you do, test-drive the car before you commit yourself. It’s the only way to assess whether the car meets all your needs and you’ll find out about its mechanical condition too.

And remember to haggle! Most sellers will have allowed for bargaining when they set the price. If you’re not completely happy, walk away.

* Parker’s also tracks the resale prices of Britain’s 100 most popular cars. See www.parkers.co.uk