Buying a second-hand car is usually considered light on the pocket, but it is also like buying someone else’s problems. As a buyer, you must be completely aware of the pros and cons of the car you decide to buy second-hand and understand the tips and tricks to grab a good deal.
While a used car costs less than a brand-new one, it has its issues. Only because a vehicle is glossy on the outside doesn’t guarantee its quality when used second-hand. One can easily be deceived by the look and appearance of a car and end up paying a hefty amount on repair bills.
To ensure blatant ideas about a used car don’t fool you, it is advisable always to consult an inspection service provider who would bring a ton of experience in dealing with used car purchases and their inspection.
As an individual who will buy a second-hand car, you must arm yourself with complete and legit information about inspecting a used car. It can be your first time buying a car for yourself, and to ensure the experience isn’t harsh and ugly, keep yourself updated on the areas of inspection of a used car.
Before you begin with your process of evaluating the car, some definite pre-requisites need to be followed to ensure the inspection results are correct-
- Make sure the car’s inspection is done in broad daylight. Evening or night-time induces more risk of faults, and defects remain unnoticed. This can lead to further problems once the purchase is made.
- During the entire inspection period, the car should be parked in an open space with enough room to open the doors without obstruction for the buyer to inspect correctly.
- To ensure the car windows and roof lines are inspected correctly, the car should be parked on a level surface. Uneven surfaces make spotting defects in the car windows and roof lines difficult.
- Taking a trusted mechanic or a professional car technician with you on inspection. These people are experienced in the domain and can detect faults or mechanical breakdowns much faster and more efficiently.
Checklist To Follow When Inspecting a Used Car
Inspecting a used car before making the final decision to buy it is a tedious and important task in hand for a buyer. All possible checkpoints must be covered, and the machine must be thoroughly examined before purchasing. We have listed some significant pointers to follow when you begin the used-car inspection-
- Check windshield stickers to acquire information about the car. All used vehicles have a sticker attached to the windshield that contains information like pollution check, warranty, etc. You must read, understand, and evaluate all the information.
- Inspect the car for any significant dents or scratches that might be a strong case for a used car. It would help if you looked for any signs of rusting or peeling off paint that reflects shabby repair work, which could result from an accident. Check the side doors and front and rear bumpers where defects are more than possible. You must inspect the joints of the doors and paste them under the spare wheel for any minor dents or imperfections.
- Check the tires and their manufacturing date. It is ideally branded on the side walls. The average life of a tire is around 30,000 km to 40,000 km, depending on the brand. Ideally, the second-hand car should have all five tires from the same company, but if you find the case to be different, you must cross-check with the seller. One gets a better peek into the used car’s running state by comparing the tire’s manufacturing date and the vehicle.
- Check for any modification parts, usually a sign of rough and rigorous car handling. It is advised not to purchase a heavily modified car. Heavy acceleration or engine damage are additional problems you might have to deal with.
- Check the suspension since suspensions are one of the main elements vulnerable to wear and tear. There shouldn’t be any signs of slumping or sagging when pushed down, and it must bounce back to its original position without shaking.
- Check for frame damage that can be caused when installing a CNG tank in the vehicle’s boot. The installation needs bolting with the car body leaving behind holes that can be a considerable risk to the vehicle’s safety and the people in it.
- Check the hood for the fluid tank, engine oil, coolant condition, brake fluid, etc. This aspect is the tricky part of the inspection process and should be done under the supervision of a technical person.
- Check the cabin and look inside the car for odometer readings, air conditioner functioning, any scratches on the seats or driving accessories, electrical fittings and their operations, floor rust, audio unit, etc.
- Check the variant of the car to ensure it is the exact model you requested.
- Take the car for a test drive to get the feel of the car’s driving capability and evaluate the quality of the brakes, suspension, and other aspects.
Contact VERGER for a Used Car Inspection today.
Inspecting a second-hand car is a challenging job. The intent is not to tell you that you need to be better to know if the vehicle you are purchasing is right but to convey that some things are done better under supervision.
VERGER Group is an ISO-17020 accredited Inspection Body that serves customers globally with our inspection and audit services. We conduct professional on-site inspections depending on your needs and requirements.
As people with extensive experience in this domain, don’t hesitate to contact us when needing an inspection service.