What to check before you buy a used car in The Gambia

Most cars on the road here arrived from Europe by ship, which means the paperwork matters as much as the engine. Before you agree a price, ask for the customs clearance and the registration book, and check that the chassis number on the papers matches the one stamped on the car.

Then drive it. Take it through Westfield in traffic, not only on an empty road — gearbox and cooling problems show up in slow traffic first.