What to look for when buying a used car in a car dealership?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Buying a car is one of the most significant events in anyone's life. To drive their own car, people work hard for months and deny themselves any entertainment.

But buying a used car is the most common way to save money when buying a car. What to look for when buying a car, so that there are no problems during its further operation? There are a number of significant details.

Buying a used vehicle is more complicated than buying a new car. In the latter case, the buyer is primarily interested in the characteristics of a particular model, but the choice of a used car requires special study of a particular car. The seller, wanting to sell the goods faster and more expensive, is likely to keep silent about many things. So, you can buy a car with a lot of unpleasant surprises. The outcome of thisthere will be a needless loss of a large amount of money and, God forbid, legal problems if it turns out that the car is credit or not cleared through customs.

Knowing the basic rules when buying a car will help to avoid fraud, and, consequently, many difficulties.

Registration documents

What to look for when buying a used car in the first place? That's right, documents. If the title is marked "DUPLICATED", and in special marks it is written that the original was lost, you should not contact the owner of this car, even if he is ready to make a big discount. Most likely, the car is under collateral in the bank.

Year of manufacture and operating conditions

What to look for when buying a car yet? Find out the year of manufacture and operating conditions. Naturally, there is a difference in whether it was used from time to time or worked all year round. There are many ways to determine the year of manufacture of a vehicle. For example, by marking glasses, we determine the year of their release. It should not differ much from the year of manufacture of the car.

In addition, all glasses must have the same year of manufacture. If not, then they have been changed. It's worth considering why. On the one hand, the windshield may be different. It is generally considered a consumable item. Another thing is when there is a longitudinal crack at the bottom of the windshield. It usually forms when the body is deformed after a serious accident. Moreover, the glass will crack constantly, no matter how much itchange. If the owner assures that it is from a chip, demand to show it on a crack.

The second thing you should definitely pay attention to when buying a used car: whether it was used in winter, and where it was. Not only the safety of the body depends on this, but also, for example, the degree of engine wear. One start of the engine in severe frosts equates to hundreds of kilometers in the summer.

By the way, mileage is what you need to pay attention to when buying a car in a car dealership or from private individuals. You can check it on the odometer. If what you see is doubtful, then most likely the mileage is “twisted”. However, knowing how much the car was used, you can estimate its real mileage. To do this, the age of the car should be multiplied by the average annual mileage (approximately 20-30 thousand). Car doors should close quietly. The driver's door should not wobble. Otherwise, this indicates a mileage far beyond 150 thousand km. If the mileage seems too low for the age of the car, run your hand along the front edge of the hood. When driving for a long time on the highway, chips should form. And, therefore, low mileage is just a fiction created for a better sale.

External inspection

What to look for when buying a car? Was she involved in an accident? A serious accident can lead to significant changes in the operation of even those parts and assemblies that were not affected during the accident and were not repaired. For example, the deformation of the internal load-bearing element of the body is significantlyreduces the overall strength of the structure. Therefore, in the next accident, however minor, your life may be in danger.

No protrusions of the hood, trunk. If the doors protrude from the body, then there was a strong blow to the rear of the car. Crumpled metal under the spare wheel, traces of corrosion and painting can also tell about this.

Also, its headlights, or rather, their fasteners, can tell about the history of the car. A soldering or crack is the result of a blow to the front of the car. Of course, you should not judge the strength of the impact, since the headlights crack very easily. But the fact that there was a blow is a fact.

The body should not have a lot of rot and rust. A small amount of it is normal for a used car that is used on our roads.

Look for dents, scratches, ripples and swelling. If, in the presence of them, the owner claims that the car was not involved in an accident, he does not finish something.

Check for fluid leaks. This is not something extraordinary. But it is better to clarify the severity of the problem with a person who is well versed in such matters.

And last but not least, what to look for when buying a car when inspecting its appearance is the wheels. They must not be skewed. The reason for the skew is an unadjusted camber. In addition, tire wear should be even.

But what to look for when buying a used car is not worth it, it's cracked or brokenbumper. This is a consumable item. Ask for a small discount and don't give up.

Engine appearance

It is best to inspect the engine twice - before and after a test drive. If the engine is shining, then most likely the owner is trying to hide something. The engine must be clean in the sense that there should be no visible oil leaks on it. Pay attention to the inner wall of the hood. Black deposits may indicate an oil leak.

Check the transmission belts. Their wear can be identified by the white tint and the visible threads of the reinforcement.

Engine running

What to look for when buying a used car when it comes to the engine? It should work evenly and quietly, without drops and knocks. Pay attention to the color of the exhaust gas. After the engine warms up, the white color of the exhaust should disappear. If not, it's time to change the cylinder head. It's most likely worn out. Black exhaust gas - the engine needs to be adjusted. Serious repairs will be needed if bluish smoke is coming out of the muffler.

Don't forget to check the oil and brake fluid. Oil is the "blood" of the engine. Forgetting to add it means that the life of the motor will be significantly reduced. From constant overheating, it wears out quickly.

Warm up the engine and turn it off. Using a dipstick, check the oil level, as well as its quality. Dark oil is fine. It's bad when it's thickened andgathers in lumps. Irregular oil changes lead to engine wear. The condition of the brake system can be judged by the condition of the brake fluid.

Shock absorbers and lights

You can check the shock absorbers by pressing on each of the corners of the car. Replacement will be required if body wobble occurs more than once. Pay attention to the work of headlights, turn signals, brake lights, reverse signals. Check steering wheel play, interior lighting, clutch and brake pedals.

Brakes, suspension, steering wheel

Try to move off in first gear. At the same time, pay attention to how far you need to lower the pedal from the fully depressed state. If the setting occurs at the very end, a replacement or serious repair will be required. When fully depressed, the brake pedal should not reach a few centimeters to the floor. Hold it down for a minute. Loose tension indicates a brake leak.

Check if the car does not throw to the sides during heavy braking, if there are any extraneous sounds. When braking in jerks, it will be necessary to change the pads.

Strong knocks when driving over small bumps - a reason to beware. Shaking steering wheel when turning hard or driving at high speed indicates misalignment or imbalance of the wheels.

gearbox and clutch

Shifting gears should be easy and without extraneous sounds. Listen to the gearbox with the clutch depressed and released. In both casesthere should be no difference in noise. Otherwise, repairs will be required.

The best thing, of course, when buying a brand and a certain model is to know all its shortcomings. It's best to check them first. Here, for example, what to look for when buying a Daewoo Nexia used car? First, the year of manufacture. Many argue that the Daewoo Nexia, manufactured in 1995–2003, has brake calipers that are not suitable for our local conditions. Secondly, the shock absorbers installed on the car are not the best. Well, when they are from third-party manufacturers. Thirdly, a very vulnerable point of the car is the middle engine mount.

As for engine oil, here many make the wrong choice, which accelerates engine wear. There are a number of oils that are absolutely not suitable for use on these vehicles.

Special attention when buying a Daewoo Nexia should be given to the electrics, namely the horn and fuses.

Basic rules: what to look for when buying a used car in a car dealership

• The car must be used for its intended purpose. Therefore, before buying a car, you need to decide what it is for. After all, you must admit that it is not necessary to drive along city streets in an SUV, and not all summer cottages can be driven in an ordinary sedan. First, it's an inconvenience. Second, the rapid wear of the machine.



• The car is standingride. A test drive is essential so that you understand that the car suits you and you feel comfortable in it.
• Don't believe the ads. The prices advertised there are always different from the real ones. Especially if they are in a foreign currency. Usually the exchange rate of car dealerships is slightly higher than the official one. In addition, a good car dealership has good sales managers who can easily sell you additional services. But, if you think you're overpaying, it's worth checking the pick list. Everything should be written there. And remember, all additional services must be provided only with your consent.
• To prevent a couple of unpleasant surprises from popping up during operation, run diagnostics.
• Too low a price should arouse suspicion. Do not fall for excuses that the owner urgently needs money. Recheck all documents. The car may not be cleared.
• The last thing to look for when buying a car from a dealership, but no less important, is its legal history. Used cars do not leave the assembly line, they are driven there by private individuals. Therefore, you should not omit this moment and blindly believe everything that is said.

What to look for when buying a car on credit?

At the moment, there are many banks cooperating with car dealerships and issuing loans to buy a car. Despite this, lending conditions do not differ much from each other, although there is a difference.

Whatpay attention when buying a car in Russia? When buying a used car, the down payment is on average 20-30% of its value. Speaking in numbers, when you get a car on credit for three years, the overpayment will be about 75-100%.

But approval mostly comes if the car's performance matches the bank's program. For example, a car must be no older than 8 years, and its mileage must not exceed 100,000 km. If at least one criterion does not meet the conditions, the loan will not be issued.

You need to know that the loan term for a used car is much shorter than a contract for a new car, usually no more than three years.

What to look for when buying a car in Moscow? The most important thing when applying for a car loan is to carefully read the contract that has not yet been signed. The best option is to slowly read the papers in a more relaxed environment, where no one will stand over your soul and rush you. Take the prepared contract home and show it to your lawyers or third-party bank employees.

What to look for when buying a car in the showroom? Not only on the price of the car, but also on the terms of credit. So, for example, in one salon the model you have chosen will cost 300,000 rubles, but the overpayment for three years will be 200,000 rubles, while in another place, where the cost of the same car is 350,000 rubles, the overpayment will be 170,000 rubles.