5 Things we check before a used car makes it onto our yard

Because buying a car should come with confidence- not crossed fingers.

Buying a used car can feel like a gamble. You never really know how the previous owner treated it or whether hidden issues are waiting to appear after you have driven away.

At Garage 27, every vehicle goes through our workshop before it earns a place in our yard. Here is a look at some of the things we are checking before putting our name behind it.

Mechanical condition

The first thing we care about is how the vehicle performs mechanically.

We are checking for signs of oil leaks, unusual noises, worn components and anything that could affect the reliability or safety.

If something doesn’t meet our standards, it doesn’t get ignored.

Brakes & Tyres

Brakes and tyres are two of the most important safety items on any vehicle.

We inspect brake wear, tyre condition and tread depth to ensure they are roadworthy and ready for their next owner.

Service History

A stamped service book does not tell you the whole story, however it certainly helps.

We look at how consistently the vehicle has been maintained, whether servicing has been completed on time and whether there is evidence the previous owner genuinly cared for it.

As we have mentioned before, we would often choose a well maintained higher kilometer vehicle over a neglected low kilometer one.

Warning lights & fault codes

No one wants to buy a car only to have the engine light appear a week later.

We check for warning lights and scan for fault codes that may indicate underlying mechanical or electrical issues.

This is all part of making sure that there are no nasty surprises.

Overall condition

Finally, we look at the complete picture.

How has the car been treated?

Does everything work as it should?

Would we be happy recommending this vehicle to our own family?

If any of these answers are no, it does not belong into our yard.

The bottom line

Anyone can wash a car, polish the paint and put a price tag on it.

At Garage 27 we believe buying a used car should be backed by more than appearances. That’s why every vehicle is assessed by our workshop before its offered for sale.

Because at the end of the day we are not just selling cars - we are putting our reputation behind every one of them.