Buying a used car, what do you need to know before having a mechanic check it?

Video : 8 compelling benefits of buying a used car.

Having a mechanic do a thorough inspection before deciding to buy a used car is almost mandatory. However, before reaching that final step, buyers should proactively check some basic information to save time, money and avoid risks.

Check the legal status of the vehicle

One of the first factors to consider is whether the vehicle is mortgaged or subject to property disputes. This information can be publicly looked up on the Electronic Information Portal of the National Registration Agency for Secured Transactions ( Ministry of Justice ).

In addition, buyers should skillfully exploit information from the seller: when was the car purchased, has it ever been in an accident, flooded, reason for selling the car... Inconsistent answers or conflicting with the documents can be a sign that the car has an unclear "history".

Assess the condition and level of wear and tear

Nowadays, many dealers understand that customers prefer original cars, so they do not "renovate" too much before selling. This helps buyers to easily evaluate the actual condition of the car, even if they do not have much technical knowledge.

Some simple tips for evaluation

Driver's door handle: This is a part that is prone to wear if the car is used frequently. If the handle is smooth and shows signs of heavy wear but the odometer shows low mileage, the buyer should be cautious.

Tires: Check the tire year printed on the sidewall (last 4 digits, e.g. “2022” means manufactured in week 20 of 2022). If all 4 tires are the same make and year as the vehicle, they are most likely original tires. Tires that are too new or too old, or uneven, may be a sign of an accident or uneven use.

According to the manufacturer's recommendation, the average life of a tire is about 3 - 5 years or 50,000 - 80,000 km of use. A car that has just been used for a few years and has had all its tires replaced may have been in a serious collision.

Car windows: The windows usually have symbols that show the brand, manufacturer, and production date. Although each manufacturer has its own symbols, the important thing to note is the consistency between the glass panels on the car. If one side of the window has a different date or manufacturer, it is likely that the car has been in a serious accident that required replacement of the glass.

Overall feel and preparation for the in-depth examination

After a preliminary check of the above factors, the buyer can make an initial assessment of the car’s originality and level of wear and tear. If everything is reasonable, the next step is to test drive it to check the operating feel, noise, stability, etc.

When you feel it is suitable, you should invite a mechanic or take the car to a reputable garage to carefully check the engine, chassis, electrical system, etc. At the same time, the buyer should choose a notary office to carry out the purchase and sale procedures, ensuring legal rights.

Proactively checking information before seeking support from a third party not only saves time and money, but also demonstrates the buyer's alertness in the context of an increasingly complex used car market.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/mua-oto-cu-can-biet-gi-truoc-khi-nho-tho-kiem-tra-post1544619.html