As when buying any new car when considering buying a used Audi A3 you should do as much research as possible beforehand. This means learning about the model you are interested in purchasing and could include things that are known to go wrong with the car and recalls which the manufacturer made. This information can all be found online. One of the best places to begin learning about the model is of course with Audi themselves.

Of course there are also some basic requirements that you have to consider as there is when buying any second hand car. These are for your safety to ensure you do not get ?ripped-off? and can also help you to get the best deal. You should take advantage of having a car data check made as this will tell you if the car is what the seller says it is. It can tell you if the car has been reported stolen, the year it was made, if it has debt owing on it and if the car has been involved in an accident and it was scraped by the insurance company. Always make your own check, never take the word of the seller that they have made a check on the car, even if they show you the results as they could have been modified.

Along with checking out the car you would also be wise to check out the seller of the used Audi A3 you are looking at buying. While the majority of used cars sold online only come with the sellers mobile number you should also get their landline number. When going to view the car always ensure that you are able to view the car at the home address of the seller. Always be very wary if the seller insists that you meet them somewhere to look over the car. This could mean they have something to hide and if there are problems with the car you would have no way of finding the seller again.

The seller should of course have all the relevant documentation for the car and it should be up to date. Check that the MOT has been done where it says is has and also check out the history when it comes to the servicing and repairs made to the car. It goes without saying that you should take the car on an extensive road test before handing over your money. Try to be as varied as possible when testing the car and look for how the card handles and its response, try to test it on clear stretches of road such as the motorway and in the city streets.

You also have to be aware of specific problems that could be related just to the Audi A3. If you are worried about any recalls then you can check these out on the Audi site where they are listed along with the models and dates of the faults. Of course if any of these apply to the specific model you are considering buying then check that the faults were rectified by the owner of the car and they have the documentation to support it.