So, you're buying a used car and you're looking for a good quality one owner vehicle that will provide years of trouble free motoring. There are many advantages to buying a well looked after one owner vehicle. For starters, you won't lose as much money through depreciation that you would by driving a brand new car out of the showroom. And by buying a car that has only had one owner, you'll have a better idea of how the car has been looked after than if you bought a car that has had two, three or even four previous owners. But buying a one owner car is not without its risks. Here we provide some tips on buying a good one owner vehicle.

Do your research first

As with buying anything, it pays to do your research before you even start looking for your new one owner car. If you have a particular make and model car in mind, then read as much as you can about it. Find out what mechanical problems the model will be most likely to suffer. Read about the car's strengths and weaknesses. Also, research how much the car is going to cost you. Get an insurance quote. If you're a male driver under 25 and you want to buy a Subaru WRX for example, you need to know exactly how much your insurance is going to cost you. Also, in these times of high fuel prices, make sure you know the car's fuel consumption figures and compare them with other model cars in the same class.

Look at as many cars as you can

Don't jump in and buy the first car that you look at. It can be easy to fall into the trap that if you don't move fast on a particular car, you will miss out on the deal of the century. There are lots of cars out there and you will find another great deal. Have patience. The more cars you look at, the less likely you will be to end up with a lemon. When inspecting and test driving any car, look at what is wrong with it rather than what is right with it. It's easy to instantly fall in love with a particular car and then overlook its faults. The more cars that you inspect, the less likely you will be to fall into this trap.

Inspect the car thoroughly

Do a thorough inspection of any car that you look at even before you consider taking it for a test drive. Check the panels for any body damage or repair work. Slight colour differences or overspray usually indicates that the car has been involved in an accident. Check the tyres for uneven wear and tear. And remember to check the spare tyre as well. The spare tyre may have been substituted and may be as bald as a badger. Check inside the car for any damage to the door panels, carpets, dashboard and seats. Does the owner have young children who may have caused damage? Have pets been in the car? Look for upholstery stains. When checking under the bonnet, don't be immediately impressed by a gleaming clean engine bay. It may indicate that the owner takes pride in keeping the car spotless, it could also mean that the engine bay has just been steam cleaned to hide engine oil leaks.

Do a REVS check

Okay, so you've driven the car and you're happy with the way it drives. There are no rattles or noises that worry you. The gears change smoothly and the clutch and brakes feel as though they should. Before you hand over your deposit, ensure that you do a REVS check on the vehicle. This will tell you whether the car is carrying a debt and whether it can be legally sold by the owner. A REVS check could avoid you having your new car repossessed at some point in the future.

To do a REVS check, you'll need the Registration number, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number and the engine number. REVS checks are a service provided by state governments.

Also, check with your local motor registry as they should be able to tell you whether the car has been written off in the past.

Insure the car before you pick it up

Before you drive off in your new one owner used vehicle, make sure you are properly insured. Call a few insurers and organise a cover note over the phone. A cover note will provide you with insurance on your car for a certain period. If you have an accident or your car is stolen while the cover note is valid, then you will be covered.

Transfer the registration

Remember that when you buy a new car, you will need to organise the transfer of the registration. You will generally have a couple of weeks to do this but the sooner you do it the better. Contact your local motor registry to find out what you need to do.