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Buy a used car without getting caught out
Second-hand cars can be a gamble. Get a viewing checklist, questions for the seller and the official checks to run first.
The prompt · ChatGPT
Help me buy a used car without getting caught out. The car: [make, model, year, mileage, fuel type] Seller: [dealer or private seller] Asking price: [price] What I need it for: [school runs, long motorway drives] What I know so far: [service history, advert details] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. Questions to ask the seller before I travel to see it. 2. A viewing checklist: outside, inside, under the bonnet and on a test drive. 3. The official checks to run on GOV.UK (vehicle information, MOT history, recalls, log book) and what to compare against the advert. 4. Warning signs that mean walk away. 5. Polite wording to ask for money off if I find a problem. Don't invent facts about this car. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts, figures or products. UK English. For GOV.UK used vehicle checks and MOT history, use web search and name the page you used. If it doesn't search on its own, open View all tools and choose Search. Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. make, model, year, mileage, fuel type: a short note you already have. dealer or private seller: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
This does not give tax advice. The books stay in the accounting system.
The prompt · Copilot
Help me buy a used car without getting caught out. The car: [make, model, year, mileage, fuel type] Seller: [dealer or private seller] Asking price: [price] What I need it for: [school runs, long motorway drives] What I know so far: [service history, advert details] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. Questions to ask the seller before I travel to see it. 2. A viewing checklist: outside, inside, under the bonnet and on a test drive. 3. The official checks to run on GOV.UK (vehicle information, MOT history, recalls, log book) and what to compare against the advert. 4. Warning signs that mean walk away. 5. Polite wording to ask for money off if I find a problem. Don't invent facts about this car. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts, figures or products. UK English. For GOV.UK used vehicle checks and MOT history, switch to Search mode so the answer comes with a citation. Stay in this Copilot chat. Leave plugins off, and do not open a file from OneDrive.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. make, model, year, mileage, fuel type: a short note you already have. dealer or private seller: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
You give the car's make, age, mileage and who's selling it.
The assistant asks about your budget, use and what you know so far.
You get a viewing checklist, seller questions and the GOV.UK checks to do before you travel.
What happens
Use Copilot to buy a used car without getting caught out
Second-hand cars can be a gamble. Get a viewing checklist, questions for the seller and the official checks to run first.
Tools
Paste the prompt, fill the blanks, copy the draft.
- Microsoft Copilot — required. Drafts from the text you paste. Nothing is sent.
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