Used Car Evaluation Checklist - Know What to Look for

Before Buying a Pre-owned car you need to be sure that you are making the right choice. A variety of factors determine whether you should buy the used car or not. An old car can have a number of issues that the seller may try to hide and some problems you might miss at the first glance. The hassle for buying a used car is much more as compared to buying a new one; you need to be sure that the money you are spending is worth it. Many endeavors have to be put in by you to make an infallible purchase.

The first and the most crucial thing is not to hasten the deal. Analyze a minimum of three to four deals and then negotiate prices with the seller. A good negotiation can be done only when you are truly aware of the market value and condition of the car. A secure way is to choose a renowned dealer of cars, like OLX Cash My Car. Making the purchase through a dealer ensures full transparency and economical deal.

• Car service history:

Check if the car has been regularly serviced. If more than one service is skipped it’s likely to impact the car’s performance. Ask for any major accidents that the car might have gotten into in the past years. Regular services and maintenance records paint a pretty good image of how well the car can perform. Also inquire about the history of the car from the owner.

• Body Examination:

Carefully inspect the exterior of the car, examine the interior too for any frame damage to the car. Don’t buy cars with frame damage. Pictures might fool you but getting a look from proximity will give you the real picture. Check the timing belt of the engine, it is the most crucial part and is quite expensive to replace. Check for any rust or corrosion thoroughly.

• Test Drives:

Taking the car out for a spin is the best way to make sure that the car you are planning to buy is in good condition. Check for clanking noises when you drive the used car. Make sure there is no trepidation. Lastly, make sure the brakes and clutches function smoothly and are not too hard. If any vibration or harshness can be felt when you use brakes, chances are some part is damaged and needs to be repaired.

• Odometer Tampering:

Odometer tampering to lower the mileage is quite common in used cars. Usually on an average a car runs 17,000-24,000 km per year. If the car is more than 3-4 years old and has a very low mileage it’s probably not true. The cars overall performance and state can also give you an idea about how roughly or smoothly it has been used.

• Carefully inspect the interior:

If it’s a new generation car with a BS-IV or BS-VI engine type then make sure the crash safety system is running and check the climate control. When you take the used car for a test drive check its charging point, infotainment system and speed. Check the air conditioning, sensors, back camera and power windows.

• Car insurance and ownership:

Before finalizing the deal verify car insurance documents and car ownership documents. The name on both the documents should be same. If the car’s ownership has been transferred frequently and has had more than two owners previously chances are the car has some major defect. Don’t buy unpopular models or too old ones. Buy used cars whose spare parts are easily available and repairable.