Things to Check Before Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car is easier than ever — with many dealers, platforms, and individual sellers around, you don’t have to look too far to find a car. In fact, with more than 52 lakh used cars sold during the last financial year, there’s no doubt that you’ll find what you’re looking for. But how does it assure that the second-hand car you’re aiming to buy is a genuinely good example? To make the whole process simpler, we present to you the things to check before buying a used car. 

Do Your Market Research 

Researching might be one of the most time-consuming things about buying a car but it’s also the most crucial first step. It doesn’t have to be hours of screen time alone, you can talk to friends, make a note of what other owners say on social media, and even track down how well a company has done in terms of sales and service over the past few years. 

In the case of used cars, people had to visit various dealers to check out their inventory. Now it’s even easier to know all about what can possibly be your next car. At CARS24, you can browse through a wide variety of high quality used cars. You can also easily book a test drive from the comfort of your home, or visit the nearest hub to check some of the best used cars on the market.

In addition to that, we recommend referring to period publications — both magazines and websites — to help you understand how well a car drove when new, how it was received by the owners, and if there were any well-known issues. Online forums can be a great place to learn the opinions of actual owners.

Get the Vehicle Inspection Report

Every new car sold by any manufacturer has to go through a dealer-based PDI, which is short for Pre-delivery inspection. This is the final seal of approval that a car is ready to be driven out of the dealership by its new owners. To further one’s peace of mind, they can also facilitate an independent agency to do the PDI for them. This is one big step to ensure that the dealer isn’t hiding something, and also to check for faults that may have been missed by the dealership. CARS24 offers this state-of-the-art service wherein you can request a learned technician from the team to check out your possible new vehicle — new or old — for a PDI.

In just under an hour, and following a 200-point inspection checklist, the CARS24 personnel will be able to give you a detailed report about the car. The absolutely essential parameters like the paint quality, mechanical condition, tyres, and interior are checked, in addition to the used car’s paperwork and service history. This helps by pointing out possible extra expenses that may not have been with just a visual inspection. 

External Condition and Bodywork Essentials

They say the first impression is the last impression, and that holds true about a car’s external condition. A clean car is easy to like and at the same time, it also gives an idea that the previous owner has taken good care of it. Some people attempt to dupe buyers by making the car appear better than it is, so as a buyer, you need to practice extreme caution here.

Look out for clear giveaways that suggest a sketchy past. If the seller hasn’t mentioned repainted panels, pay close attention to the car’s paintwork. It’s always a good idea to check out a car during the day (not under harsh sunlight, though), try to look for dent repairs, mismatched colours, paint overspray (paint droplets accumulated on the edges), etc. Other signs of a bad used car can be imperfect fitments, wrong parts, and even the unnecessary use of body filler to hide rough patches.

How’s the Interior Condition

You’re going to spend the majority of your time inside the car’s cabin, so it’s absolutely essential that you like what you’re putting your money on. Like the exterior, the cabin can also present signs of unusual wear, cheap modifications, or even possible expenses. Some interior parts can be hard to source for less popular cars, so it’s a good idea to make a note of the condition and factor in possible extra expenses.

Hard-wearing plastics, cloth seat covers, etc. tend to not wear out or even show signs of wear  as some of the more premium materials like leather. Dashboards in some cars are prone to developing cracks, too, while buttons and AC vents in many cars become brittle due to extreme weather or exposure to direct sunlight. A PDI check will reveal all of this, and according to the report, if there’s a requirement for replacement, you must factor in those costs, too.

Mileage and Odometer Tampering

As cars get modern, tampering with their odometers has become difficult. This means it’s not as easy for someone to hide their car’s original mileage. Many modern cars, especially premium ones, have their service data logged into the respective company’s database. Plus, unlike in the past where mileage was largely dependent on the odometer, there are multiple sensors recording the car’s mileage, so finding it out isn’t as difficult as it used to be.

Another strong point is that not all low-mileage cars are in top condition. A car’s life is dependent on how well it’s maintained, so even a high-mileage car can be a good one as long as it’s been used and serviced well. There’s also a strong chance that if a car has been running regularly, a large number of parts which need to be replaced have been done already. You must verify with the owner so that it doesn’t turn into an additional burden on your pocket.

What About Tyres

Tyres are possibly the easiest of replacements done to a car, along with filters and the battery. But tyres are also a great way to understand if the seller is trying to outsmart you. Most modern tyres usually last anywhere between 30,000 - 50,000 km. So if you’re buying a car that’s run more than that without the tyres being replaced, it’s going to be an immediate expense for you. This is also true if the tyres were manufactured more than 5 years ago. Mismatched tyres, or ones which have a vastly different manufacturing date, can be a sign of something fishy.

Similarly, among the vital things to check before buying a used car are the windows. All windows have the last digits of their year of manufacturing marked on them. When inspecting a car, you must make sure that all windows have the same year mentioned. If not, and the dealer hasn’t mentioned anything about a replacement, then you’ll need to be careful. This warrants a closer look and thus a further negotiation on the car’s price.

No Surprises Under the Bonnet

You don’t have to be extra technical to know about a car’s age from how its engine bay appears. There’s the manufacturer’s VIN (vehicle identification number) plate, or the chassis number stamped near the back of the engine. Steer clear if you see signs of tampering with that. The location of this number varies between manufacturers and models, and decoding the number can give you basic details about the car, model, engine, and even the date of manufacturing. Some premium cars also have an options code embossed on a plate; this signifies the optional extras the original owner opted for from the factory.

A spotless engine bay shouldn’t raise any alarms because before selling the car, many sellers get their cars thoroughly cleaned. Signs of a bad used car include non-standard items that the seller might’ve missed to include in the initial description. Spliced wires are a big no — stay away if you don’t want trouble. Also, with the bonnet open, just hear for stray noises from the engine, both at idle and with some throttle input. Look for visible engine shake both when you start the car and turn it off.

What to Look for in a Test Drive?

Nothing tells you more about a car than a test drive; It’s the biggest car check before buying. Having prior knowledge of how a good example drives is going to be beneficial. But if that’s not possible, or if you don’t have the friendly mechanic tagging along for the drive, keep an eye and ear out for anything unusual. The slightest of deviations can be a sign of abnormal wear or something that might require immediate repair.

It’s not just about what you see and hear but also what you feel. From a spongy brake pedal to hard gear shifts, the test drive can also be used to understand the condition of mechanicals. Other things that suggest component failure are jerky starts, noises from the suspension, and an unsettled ride. The list is long, and it’s difficult to pinpoint what’s going to go wrong, but any deviation from normal is bound to turn into something more.

Documentation and Ownership

Ensuring that all the necessary paperwork is in place will make the transfer of ownership easy, when you eventually buy the car. So, you must check for the registration documents, insurance, and even other crucial items like PUC certificates.

If the previous owner has been careful in preserving original documents like previous invoices, service booklet, and even proof of repairs and maintenance, it’s going to further your trust in the car. Some sellers can be dishonest about the number of owners, but the previously mentioned vehicle inspection report is going to be extremely helpful. 

Pricing and Negotiation: How Much Should You Pay?

A car’s price isn’t just decided on its make, model, and year; its demand in the market defines used car values. Studying the market and its fluctuations will be useful when you’re negotiating on the final price.

Alternatively, there are some cars which have a lot to offer to the customer but owing to low demand, their prices aren’t through the roof. Some research will help you identify these — and can help you with how to buy a used car. 

Conclusion

As stated earlier, buying a pre-owned car isn’t as difficult as it once was, but there are limited used cars out there and the number of buyers lining up is only increasing. Following the above-mentioned things to check before buying a used car will definitely help you stay ahead of the rest, and will in turn bring you one step closer to the perfect car of your choice.