What to check before buying a used car

This guide applies wherever you buy the vehicle — from us, from the classifieds or from a private seller. A used vehicle is bought on verification, not on impression. Below is the checklist we recommend.

Documentation

In the registration document, check that the chassis number matches the one on the vehicle, how many owners the vehicle has had and in which countries. Service-history entries must run in orderly sequence, with date and mileage; gaps of several years require explanation. With imported vehicles, request the history from the country of origin as well — without it you buy on trust rather than on data.

Bodywork and external inspection

View the vehicle in daylight. Panel gaps must be even, the paint shade identical across all parts, and unevenness in the lacquer points to later repainting. New bolts on the wings and masking traces in the sills are signs of repairs that warrant questions.

Mechanicals and interior

Tyres should be worn evenly — uneven wear points to suspension or alignment. Brake discs must not carry deep grooves. The interior’s condition must correspond to the mileage: a heavily worn steering wheel and seat alongside a low displayed mileage are grounds for further checks. The air conditioning should cool immediately, and all equipment should work correctly.

The test drive

Start the engine cold — a warm engine can conceal irregularities. The gearbox should work smoothly in all gears, the vehicle should hold its line without pulling, and the suspension should produce no knocks over bumps. After the drive, inspect the ground beneath the vehicle: fresh stains point to leaks.

Why the list is shorter with us

With a fleet vehicle a considerable part of the checks falls away of itself: the history is known and documented, the mileage confirmed by service records, and maintenance performed to schedule. What remains is what we always recommend — an unhurried viewing and test drive, to which we invite you for every vehicle of ours.