Seven in 10 second hand motors checked by AA Cars’ vehicle inspectors had at least one fault such as signs of previous accident damage, corrosion and clutch issues.

Brake issues are the most common problem with drivers forking out an average £400 to fix these faults. However, clutch issues (the fourth most common fault) cost between £600 and £800 to repair.

But the most expensive issue commonly seen in pre-owned vehicles is a broken timing chain/belt, which could lead to drivers seeing red with a repair bill averaging £1,200.

Based on the thousands of inspections carried out by AA Cars, other problems to look out for include general corrosion, oil leaks to an engine or gearbox, and existing damage to the car’s body.

The table below lists the eight most common used car faults found by AA Cars’ vehicle inspectors:

Half of motorists don’t know what to look for

The analysis also showed that out of 11,565 drivers, 85% would check beneath the bonnet before buying a used car, but around half (45%) admitted they do not know what to look for.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “A car is often the second-biggest purchase people make after their home. Most people wouldn’t dream of buying a house without a survey — yet many car buyers don’t stop to consider the benefits of a pre-purchase vehicle inspection before parting with thousands of pounds.”

King said that many of the most common problems vehicle inspectors find during assessments are hard for the average person to spot.

“Even if drivers carry out some checks themselves, such as looking at the bonnet, many do not know what they’re looking for.”

He added that AA vehicle inspectors carry out up to 206 checks on a car, and this is nearly impossible for non-motoring experts to replicate.

“Yet if a fault goes undetected, drivers could find themselves forking out hundreds of pounds to repair it. With 70% of used cars assessed found to have some kind of issue, drivers who make a purchase without getting an inspection could be taking a big financial risk,” he warned.