Mechanic warns people of three things they 'must check' before buying a used car

If you're considering buying a used car in order to save on costs make sure you check out these handy tips to make the most out of your purchase.

Everybody knows that buying a brand new car outright can be a pretty pricey idea, especially when you factor in that you lose money on your investment the very second you drive it out of the dealership.

Securing a pair of wheels on finance, also known as personal contract purchase (PCP), is a way of getting around this, but also comes with drawbacks of its own.

Perhaps that's why you've decided to get a secondhand motor as your next ride, as surely it'll mean that you're saving on costs, right?

Sure, buying an older car isn't without risks - with higher maintenance costs and higher chances of a breakdown - but get it right and you'll definitely be saving on money.

Which is why one TikToker has put together a list of the three things motorists should be asking before shaking hands on their new whip.

Shared by 'Jackson the Mekanic', the viral clip highlighted three simple checks to make and why it could potentially save you thousands.

Oil level

Jackson begins by highlighting how important it is to check oil levels in the car, pointing his camera at where you should look under the bonnet.

"First, you pull out the dipstick," he explained.

"Now it's very important to wipe it with a rag first, then re-insert the dipstick back in."

Then check to make sure the engine oil level is between the minimum and maximum lines.

Just make sure the engine is turned off first, although you should remember this from your driving theory test.

Coolant level

Remaining under the bonnet, Jackson's next stop was to check the engine coolant level.

Responsible for reducing or regulating the temperature of your car's engine, coolant maintaining the health of your engine.

To check this, our expert explains: "There's two ways you can do this, you can check it directly from the radiator, or you can check it from the overflow."

Explaining how to check it from the radiator, Jackson says all you have to do is lift the cap - but warns that you'll never want to carry this check out if the car and engine are still hot.

Should you find the car is low on coolant, then make sure to top it up.

Brake fluid level

Last on the list is checking the brake fluid level, as it would be pretty disastrous to have these fail while driving.

"What your looking [for] here is for colour and for the level," he explained, going on to add that the car he was using as an example was 'nice and new, and is also topped up to the max.'

So don't feel shy about asking to pop the bonnet up next time you're shopping for a new car.