Team-BHP - View Single Post - ARTICLE: How to buy a *USED* Car in India

adya33 · 9th November 2006, 18:55

STEP THREE : Checking Out the Car

• Expert friend: If you don’t know much about cars, bring a knowledgeable friend or mechanic with you. They may discover problems unknown to you and a second opinion can be helpful.

• Call before you leave: Clarify all the details about a car before you travel any distance to see it. This will save you precious time if you discover the car isn’t worth looking at.

• Daytime: Always examine a car in broad daylight; darkness can conceal obvious damage.

• Cold Start: A cold engine will give away far more than one that has reached operating temperatures. Insist on starting the car from cold, and work the engine up yourself.

• Documentation: Carefully check a car’s original documentation for discrepancies. This is also a good time to go through the car’s service history to see how it has been maintained – service records are very important. Some documents that you should verify include:
1. RTO tax receipt: This is now a one-time tax and the original owner should pay it.
2. Registration of the car: Check for the state of registration and see if the letters “DRC” appear on it anywhere. DRC means Duplicate Registration Certificate.
3. Insurance: Check whether the insurance is comprehensive or basic third-party and when it will expire.
4. Original invoice: Take a look at the car’s original invoice. Details like the chassis and engine numbers can be found here.
5. Finance NOC: If you are looking at a financed car, make sure that the NOC is available.

• Odometer tampering: Artificially lowering a car’s odometer is common malpractice in the used market. Most cars sold by dealers from the unorganized segment have had their odometers clocked back. There are not many ways to check for odometer accuracy but look at the service records for inconsistencies. The date of tyre manufacture may also indicate the actual mileage traveled.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover: Even if a car looks like a great bargain, don’t get too excited. Calmly check to make sure that the beauty is more than skin deep.

• Comprehensive test drive: Switch off the stereo and drive the car under as many conditions as possible: bumper-to-bumper traffic, open highways, inclines and declines.

• The mechanic’s word: A mechanic’s judgment may be the most valuable piece of information available to you. Have a trusted mechanic look over the car for accident damage and to check its overall condition. Invest the small amount of money to have an authorized dealership run a complete check of the car.

9th November 2006, 18:55	#3 (permalink)
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,806	STEP THREE : Checking Out the Car • Expert friend: If you don’t know much about cars, bring a knowledgeable friend or mechanic with you. They may discover problems unknown to you and a second opinion can be helpful. • Call before you leave: Clarify all the details about a car before you travel any distance to see it. This will save you precious time if you discover the car isn’t worth looking at. • Daytime: Always examine a car in broad daylight; darkness can conceal obvious damage. • Cold Start: A cold engine will give away far more than one that has reached operating temperatures. Insist on starting the car from cold, and work the engine up yourself. • Documentation: Carefully check a car’s original documentation for discrepancies. This is also a good time to go through the car’s service history to see how it has been maintained – service records are very important. Some documents that you should verify include: 1. RTO tax receipt: This is now a one-time tax and the original owner should pay it. 2. Registration of the car: Check for the state of registration and see if the letters “DRC” appear on it anywhere. DRC means Duplicate Registration Certificate. 3. Insurance: Check whether the insurance is comprehensive or basic third-party and when it will expire. 4. Original invoice: Take a look at the car’s original invoice. Details like the chassis and engine numbers can be found here. 5. Finance NOC: If you are looking at a financed car, make sure that the NOC is available. • Odometer tampering: Artificially lowering a car’s odometer is common malpractice in the used market. Most cars sold by dealers from the unorganized segment have had their odometers clocked back. There are not many ways to check for odometer accuracy but look at the service records for inconsistencies. The date of tyre manufacture may also indicate the actual mileage traveled. • Don’t judge a book by its cover: Even if a car looks like a great bargain, don’t get too excited. Calmly check to make sure that the beauty is more than skin deep. • Comprehensive test drive: Switch off the stereo and drive the car under as many conditions as possible: bumper-to-bumper traffic, open highways, inclines and declines. • The mechanic’s word: A mechanic’s judgment may be the most valuable piece of information available to you. Have a trusted mechanic look over the car for accident damage and to check its overall condition. Invest the small amount of money to have an authorized dealership run a complete check of the car. Last edited by GTO : 16th January 2008 at 10:15.