What questions should you ask someone selling a car?

There' s a lot riding on getting it right when you buy a car privately. It can be an expensive exercise if you don't get the full story before you hand over your cash, credit card details or a bank cheque.

But it doesn't have to be a complex or terrifying process. The first stage of the process to buy a car privately can involve a basic 'audit' of the car from its photos in the ad. From there, any obvious questions can be asked of the seller by phone or by email.

Online portals like carsales.com.au have revolutionised the process of buying a used car. It's so much simpler than the good old days, and tracking down the car you want is that much easier now. That doesn't mean you treat the purchase process as a walk in the park, however.

Not everything you need to know about the car you're considering will be listed in the ad. You will need to check for some not-so-obvious pitfalls. Do you know whether the car is part of a property dispute resulting from a marriage break-up, for instance? If the friendly bloke telling you all about the Volkswagen New Beetle for sale has tatts and wears a blue singlet, the car may actually belong to his wife... his now estranged wife.

Has the car previously sustained heavy damage, and has it been repaired by one of those cheap-and-nasty insurer-approved repairers who cut corners to save money? That's the leading question in another series you should ask of the owner.

The best way to go about finding out this sort of information is by asking the owner directly. It's important to bear in mind, however, that you may not get an entirely honest reply. But it's better to ask than let the seller off the hook altogether.

One way to arm yourself in advance for the seller being economical with the truth is to check the images of the vehicle listed in the ad before you start putting questions to him or her. Ask a friend who knows a little about the car you're planning to buy for their opinion, based on looking at the car. And if they're willing, ask your friendly expert to come along and help with your interrogation of the owner. They may spot something in the owner's answer that just doesn't sound right, and warrants further questioning.

Analysing the photos before you contact a vendor can save valuable time and unnecessary communication. It also allows you to cut to the chase to get the information that really matters.

Be aware that photos can make a car look much better than it is. Yet they can still tell you plenty. Expand the photo and take a closer look at the gaps around the doors, boot and bonnet. Are they even? Are there colour differences between panels? Do the doors, bonnet and rear hatch/bootlid sit flush with other panels?

What is not shown in the photos might be more important than what is. Are key photos missing? Does the advertisement include photos of both sides of the vehicle as well as front and rear? Why not? If there are no interior or engine shots, why not? Can the vendor supply extra photos?

Get to know what the body and cabin details should be for that vehicle by comparing it with photos of similar models. Do details like wheels, badges and other items match the description of the vehicle? If not, ask the vendor to clarify any deviations. Check the photos of the underbonnet area and compare it to similar models. Are key components different? Has the vehicle been modified? Does it match the description?

Check the cabin shots. Are the seats, trim and other interior details correct for the year and model? Again, check against similar models. Is the car clean? Is the condition consistent with other claims being made about the vehicle? If an owner can't be bothered preparing the car for photos, what else are you going to find?

The vast majority of vehicle owners will be truthful with you, the buyer. They just want to sell the car, and be dinkum about it. However, it's not going to harm your interests to approach with a suspicious mind any interaction with a seller.

There are some tell-tale signs you should note and tuck away for further consideration before you get serious about making a counter offer. We've already mentioned the possibility that the seller is not authorised to sell his or her partner's car during a property settlement dispute.

Heavy damage has already been mentioned too. A car that has been involved in a serious crash, almost but not quite to the point of being written off by the insurer, can be a money pit, a nightmare of inconvenience and a butt of jokes among your friends and family. Don't be shy asking about obvious signs of paint overspray under the bonnet, and particularly near the firewall between the engine and the cabin.

Another warning sign is a used car being sold within months of purchase because a family member didn't like the car. This is a reason commonly cited by bogus repairers, backyard traders and the like.

Has the car been advertised as a 'low-kilometre' example of the type? It's not unknown for instrument binnacles to be replaced with one from a wreck, the odometer showing a much lower distance travelled. Sellers should be asked specifically whether they're prepared to guarantee the car's odometer reading is correct. Especially if the service documents have gone mysteriously missing. Do they have other records (service invoices, for example) to back this mileage? Instrument clusters with 70,000km -- 95,000km on the odometer are hot sellers in the wrecking yards of Australia.

Honest vendors who have a genuine vehicle to sell will usually support you in this process when it saves them and you time. By working through these points, you can fine-tune your communication with the vendor and save time for both parties.

What you need to hear from the owner