Then check with the vendor that the car has comprehensive service history, and what service and work is next due, according to the vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. If a big service is coming up, ask a retailer for a quote so that you know what you are letting yourself in for before you buy the car.

All cars from late 2015 onwards will meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. For earlier cars, you can check at the Vehicle Certification Agency’s website. This is particularly important if you

regularly drive in London, where pre-Euro 6 diesel and pre-Euro 4 petrol cars have to pay an extra charge of £12.50 a day, on top of the Congestion Charge. Other regions are bound to follow suit, so even if this doesn’t matter to you now, it might do in the future.

If you aren’t comfortable inspecting a second-hand car, particularly when you’re buying from a private vendor, have an expert to do it for you. You could arrange to take the car to a local garage and pay a fee (around £100) to have it inspected professionally. Alternatively, the likes of the AA will check over a second-hand car to make sure the ‘one careful owner’ has been as careful as they claim.

Honda Approved Cars are subject to a very stringent multi-point check which includes lighting, instruments, steering and suspension, brakes, and even bodywork. There are a detailed engine check and a thorough road test. Any rectifications use genuine Honda parts, fitted by qualified technicians, and then the cars are given an in-depth valet and polish before the sale.

Once you’ve test-driven the car (see our guide to getting the most from a test drive), ask to see the car’s accompanying paperwork, including the V5C vehicle registration document. Make sure they’re originals – but note that MOT certificates are now computer printouts, so it’s best to check the MOT history online.

Ensure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the V5C and MOT certificates matches the one on the car. On many cars, you can locate the vehicle identification number in the bottom right-hand corner of the windscreen (as you look from the front of the car) and often also on a plaque under the bonnet or in one of the door jambs. The name and address of the recorded keeper on the V5C will probably be those of the vendor, but the keeper is not necessarily the legal owner.

Ideally the previous owners of a car will have lavished it with care and attention. So look through the service book to see that it’s up to date with no glaring gaps, check accompanying invoices and also nose through past MOT certificates. A Honda retailer will present all this and will have verified the car’s recorded mileage for you. But if buying from a private vendor, the objective is to try and tally the mileage with its service history and MOT certificates.

Honda approved cars come with a data check for total peace of mind. It confirms, among other things, that the car hasn’t been crashed and deemed beyond safe repair, there’s no outstanding finance, and the car isn’t stolen or cloned.

If buying from a private vendor, or independent trader, it’s possible to pay a modest fee (between £10 and £20) for a data check, which will be worth its weight in gold.

Are you buying a car privately? Then the only protection you have is if the seller has described it incorrectly in the advertisement. It means the buyer needs to beware. So, check that everything about the car conforms to the advert – for example, if climate control and electric seats are meant to be fitted to the vehicle, make sure they’re present. Equally, if it’s listed as having had two previous owners, check the V5C registration certificate verifies that claim.

Buy from a private vendor, and you’re unlikely to get a warranty on the car, though you can buy one from a specialist provider (costs start around £200). Most used cars from retailers will come with some form of warranty, with the period varying from retailer to retailer. Approved used cars from franchised retailers generally have the longest warranties.

Honda Approved Cars come with a minimum of 12 months Genuine Honda Guarantee. This applies to Honda manufactured vehicles up to 8 years old and any other car makes up to 5 years old with no mileage restrictions.

The finance products available for Honda Approved used cars are similar to those that are available for new Honda cars.

Honda Financial Services offers flexible finance packages, including its competitive Personal Contract Purchase and Hire Purchase products, which can be tailored to suit your monthly budget requirements.

In case something does go wrong with your new purchase, it’s a good idea to arrange roadside assistance cover. Some insurers provide this as part of a car policy, or you can go to a specialist like the AA.

Honda Approved Cars have peace of mind built-in with 12 months Hondacare Assistance which covers you at home or on the road, in the UK and Europe. Recovery is also included, so if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, you, your vehicle, and up to four passengers, can be transported to any single mainland UK destination.