Buying a car, even if second hand, is a pretty big financial committment. So you want to be sure that the bargain you're looking for isn't in fact a dud, then McCarthy Cars has some great tips on what to look out for...

When you're in the market for your next car you must make sure you're making a like for like comparison. This is simply because the headline price you first see that comes up cheapest does not necessarily mean the best value for money on the overall package.

Sometimes all the extras that can be thrown in with a vehicle can be worth a considerable amount of money, so if you're after more than just a basic on the road vehicle then you really need to take all the extras into consideration.

What extras? Here's the lowdown on what to look out for:

1. Has the car been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule?

2. Is the car going to have a multi point inspection done before you drive it away, and if so, what does it include?

3. Is there a valid MOT, and if so, how long for?

4. Is road tax included?

5. Does the car come with a warranty? If so, how long is it for - 3 months minimum or 1 year?

6. What are the details of the warranty and what is the claim limit?

7. Does the car come with breakdown recovery assistance and if so for how long?

8. How much fuel will be in the car when you collect it and will it be fully valeted?

9. Is there an exchange policy in place? How long and what are the qualifying parameters?

10. Have you checked the tyres? Bear in mind they might be legal to drive away on but how much tread is left on them? Replacing tyres can be an expensive exercise...

Whe you add up all of these things you quickly realise that if one dealer is including all or most of them, and another isn't, this can mean there's actually a major price disparity between the two. The cheaper car actually works out as more expensive.

Of course it all comes down to what's important to you, and whether you feel you need all the extras but the bottom line is make sure you talk things through with your car dealer and properly work out the "real" price you're paying for your vehicle.

For advice you can trust, speak to McCarthy Cars.