Check the advert is accurate
Adverts get things wrong. Sometimes it is an honest mistake, such as the wrong engine version or a manual listed as an automatic. Sometimes a seller describes a lower-spec car as a higher one. The specification in the report gives you a record to check against.
Compare the body style, transmission, number of doors and power figures with what the advert says and what you see on the viewing. If the advert says 150 bhp and the record says 120, ask why. It might have been remapped, which should be declared to an insurer, or it might simply be the lower-powered version.
If the car has been modified, the specification shows what it left the factory with. Any modification should be declared to your insurer.
Practical details
The dimensions are useful if you have a narrow drive or a small garage. Seats and doors matter if you are carrying a family. The gearbox matters if you hold a licence for automatic cars only.
Combined mpg feeds into the running costs check, replacing the estimate from the CO2 figure when the full check has one. The insurance group gives you an idea of premiums before you get a quote: see our insurance group check.
Body style can matter more than you expect. Hatchback, estate and saloon versions of the same model can differ a lot in length, and the dimensions in the report help you compare.
Performance figures
Power, torque, 0-62 mph and top speed tell you how the car should feel to drive. They help when two versions of the same model look identical from the outside. Our BHP and performance check explains what each figure means.
Torque matters for towing and for how relaxed a car feels on the motorway. If you plan to tow a caravan or trailer, check the car's towing limits in the handbook or with the manufacturer as well.
Fuel economy and power often pull in opposite directions. If two versions interest you, compare the combined mpg and the insurance group side by side before you decide.
Part of the full history check
The specification is part of the full history check, which costs £4.49, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10. It also covers finance, write-off, stolen, keeper and plate checks, plus a valuation. The free check covers MOT, tax and mileage, along with the basics the DVLA holds and how many of the same model are on UK roads, from the latest official vehicle licensing statistics.
Have the report open at the viewing. Checking the badge, the gearbox and the number of seats against it takes a minute.