What you should pay attention to when buying a car "second-hand": the most important nuances

Buying a used car can be a good deal, because a brand new car has the highest margin, which it loses as soon as it leaves the showroom. Instead, a used "iron horse" is both an opportunity to save money and less nerves about its condition during operation. But buying a car second-hand still requires much more care. You need to know how to choose the right used car.

OBOZREVATEL has collected the main tips for those who buy a used car. Use them all.

Identify the weaknesses and strengths of the chosen model

When you have decided on the model you want to buy, study the information about it in detail. As a rule, specific machines have typical weaknesses and strengths - the most vulnerable parts and components or certain advantages. You can find out about this from independent reviews and feedback on car forums and in specialized social media groups. Complete information will allow you to properly inspect the car at the seller's place and bargain when buying.

Set the right price

Don't grab the first offer that seems attractive. Look through websites with ads for used cars and read the available offers carefully. This way you will know the average cost of the chosen model and how it is affected by certain features. Use free online calculators. Also, determine for yourself the price range you are willing to pay for the purchase.

Study the history of the chosen car

Once you've chosen an offer that suits you, check all available documents that can tell you about the car's history. Run it through the registration plate, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle passport, VIN, body or chassis number. All this information is open and available on the relevant services. This way you will find out if the car has been involved in serious accidents, sustained severe damage, or if it is stolen, arrested, or pawned. In this case, you will get a lot of unnecessary problems for your own money. Also, ask the seller to send you all the necessary data.

Why it is important to check the vehicle's passport

This document is the most important when it comes to a car. It is even more important than the registration certificate, because it contains all the information about the car, regardless of the owner. Thus, if you are sent a duplicate of the vehicle registration certificate, it may mean that the car was bought on credit, it has not yet been repaid, and therefore the original is kept at the bank. If there is no free space in the TPL and the owner has not taken care of reissuing the document, it may be difficult for you to register your purchase.

Inspect the body

Small dents, scratches, chips, rust marks, and obvious discrepancies in the color of the paint on the body are a bad sign. Also, inspect all body surfaces from an acute angle so you can spot any patches or primers. Don't hesitate to illuminate suspicious and hard-to-reach areas with a flashlight or even use a thickness gauge to detect differences in paint thickness. If the cosmetic repairs are minor and well done, it will not affect the functionality of the car. If there are many such marks, it may indicate that the body was restored after severe damage - an accident or corrosion.

Pay special attention to the joints between the body parts and the condition of the connecting bolts. Different sizes of gaps may indicate that the car has been hit or the body was repaired poorly. Connecting bolts without scratches and chips indicate that they were not dismantled for repair - this is a plus. Also, check all the doors, the fuel filler flap, the hood, and the trunk - they should open and close without much effort.

Pay attention to the engine

If the engine compartment of the car they are trying to sell you is cleaned to a high gloss, you should be alerted. This is how sellers hide oil leaks. So, make sure that the engine shows signs of use, but that the hood is dry and free of stains.

Inspect all hoses for cracks and breaks. Listen to the sound of the engine running - it should run smoothly and not make any strange noises. Gears should shift easily, regardless of the type of box - you shouldn't feel jerks or hear any extraneous sounds. Also, look at the color of the smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. If it's black or gray, it's a bad sign. At best, it's a reason to demand a discount.

Try to get a mechanic to test the engine. They will be able to identify all possible defects, indicate which parts need to be replaced, and advise on the price.

Check the chassis in detail

The roads in Ukraine, frankly, are not the best, so the suspension of a used car will be damaged to some extent. Therefore, carefully inspect the struts, arms, and shock absorbers. This way, you can compare the mileage claimed by the seller with the real situation.

If you can't test the chassis in a car repair shop, take a test drive in the car you've chosen, whether as a driver or a passenger. And it's better to drive on uneven roads, so you can feel the condition of the suspension. You will also be able to listen to the sounds the car makes. During such a trip, you should perform all the maneuvers that you will have to perform while using the car - a sharp turn, acceleration, and sudden braking. If the seller refuses to do this, it is a good reason to refuse to buy the car at all.

Assess the condition of the interior

The condition of the interior will tell you how carefully the car has been used, sometimes even better than a technical inspection. Make sure that the upholstery, all surfaces, and floor mats are intact - no cracks, chips, or heavy scuffs. Significant wear and tear may indicate that the machine has been used for a long time.

Check the working condition of everything that can be turned on and off in the cabin - power windows, lights, heated seats and steering wheel, air conditioning, windshield wipers, etc. Make sure that the driver's seat is in good condition - not squashed or skewed.

Do not agree to pay extra for an expensive audio system, especially if you do not need it. You can remove it and then even ask for a discount for not having a radio.

Try to make sure that the car you are buying has not been used as a taxi, as a company car or a technical car at an enterprise or, for example, in a village where it was used very intensively. In this case, it has been working for wear and tear and is most likely in poor condition.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!