Used diesel estate cars

The diesel estate is still the car for high-mileage drivers and families who travel fully loaded. A big boot, low fuel use on the motorway and plenty of range: if you drive a lot, it still makes sense. For short trips around town, though, it's the wrong tool.

Check the Euro standard first

In Brussels, diesels rated Euro 5 or older are banned from the low emission zone (LEZ), and drivers who enter anyway risk a fine. Antwerp and Ghent apply their own rules. Before anything else, check the Euro standard on the Car-Pass or certificate of conformity, then run the plate through the lez.brussels simulator. A Euro 6 estate gives you more headroom. Keep in mind that a car shut out of LEZs is also harder to resell.

What to check before you buy

• The Car-Pass, under two months old and checked with its QR code.
• The timing belt. Ask when it was last replaced.
• The particulate filter. It doesn't cope well with repeated short trips. Ask how the car has been used.
• AdBlue. Many Euro 6 diesels use it. Check that no warning light is on.

Start the engine cold, watch the exhaust smoke, then take a test drive of at least 20 minutes including a stretch on a fast road.