How-to Guide

Clear steps from first visit to plate check

Follow these in order, or jump to the bit you need. Everything in steps 1–6 can stay free; step 7 is optional.

1. 1. Open your buyer checklist

   • On the homepage you’ll see a Buyer checklist above the tabs. It follows whichever tab you’re on — Search, Match by Lifestyle, or Ask Carter — and starts partway complete so you’re already underway, not at zero.
   • Each tab’s path is: Started your checklist → that tab’s action → Built your shortlist (once you’ve done it) → Verified a registration.
   • Use Continue when you want a nudge to the next unfinished step for the current tab. Verifying a plate finishes that path at 100%, and the verified marker then shows on every tab.

2. 2. Name your shortlist

   • In Your shortlist, type a name like “Family SUV hunt” and press Claim it.
   • This makes the research yours. You can rename it later.
   • Once you’ve named it and saved a car, “Built your shortlist” appears on the checklist for every tab.

3. 3. Search a specific car

   • Open Search a Specific Car — the checklist shows the search path for this tab.
   • Headache filters are pre-selected — tap to adjust. Pick an optional brand chip, type a model (or paste a full listing title), or use a quick suggestion like Golf / X5.
   • Press Reveal Headache-Free Results. You’ll get a free cheat sheet: pros, cons, living with it, running costs, and the critical red flag. That stamps “Searched a specific car.”
   • Press Save to [your shortlist] to pin that car.

4. 4. Or match by lifestyle

   • Open Match by Lifestyle — the checklist switches to the lifestyle path.
   • Choose how you drive (motorway, city, family, reliability, fun).
   • Press Show My Recommendations to see up to three fits. That stamps “Matched by lifestyle.” Save any you like to your shortlist.

5. 5. Or ask Carter

   • Open Ask Carter — the checklist switches to the Carter path.
   • Ask a blunt question — for example common Golf faults, or a robust hybrid under £15k. A reply stamps “Asked Carter.”
   • After Carter replies, a Checking a real listing? box appears under the chat so you can move to a plate check without leaving the tab.

6. 6. Free identity check on a real plate

   • On a cheat sheet, featured car, or after chatting with Carter, enter the registration.
   • You’ll get a free identity match (colour, make, model, year, MOT) — no signup wall on that peek.
   • That stamps “Verified a registration,” brings the checklist to 100% on every tab, and keeps the verified marker visible wherever you are.

7. 7. Optional full history check

   • If you want the deeper dig (finance, salvage/write-off markers, MOT/mileage signals), use Don’t risk buying blind — run the full check.
   • You’ll see price in context first: typical used-car spend and bad-buy cost, then the one-off report price — so it isn’t shown as a lonely number.
   • Or choose I’ll risk buying without the full check and keep browsing.