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While we all like to think we won*t be conned when buying a used car, thousands of people are every single year. The majority of these people have bought their used car from one of the popular free ads papers and have known very little - if anything - about what to look for in a quality car. If you fall into this category, then simply follow the top seven car buying tips outlined below.

First of all, look out for signs that the car may have been involved in a serious accident. Points to watch out for include slight gaps between the body panels and car doors that drop or that fit badly on their hinges.

Always give the gearbox and clutch a through test. To do this, make sure that you have the engine running then press down on the clutch. If there is any change in the sound of the engine then this could indicate the bearings are worn.

The gearstick should move smoothly without any *crunching* sound.

Make sure the brakes are in top order by breaking as firmly as you can without the car skidding.

When you start up the car make sure the exhaust fumes are white - any other colour could indicate problems.

Check the panels to make sure there are no lose screws. If there are this could indicate that the odometer has been tampered with and the car has done more mileage than it states.

Finally, always go over the car's paperwork thoroughly to make sure the history is correct. Generally the more history a car has then the better. Or invest in a vehicle data check, a service which can instantly check your proposed new car's history, including whether it has ever been stolen or involved in an accident or whether it has any outstanding finance on it etc.

The service does not cost a lot and could save you a fortune - as well as any headaches * in the future.