What issues should be noted when purchasing a second-hand car?
When purchasing a second-hand car, the following matters and vehicle inspection skills should be noted to ensure transaction safety and vehicle quality:
1. Preparations Before Purchasing a Car
Budget planning: When determining the budget, in addition to the price of the bare vehicle, it is also necessary to reserve for transfer fees, insurance premiums, inspection fees, subsequent maintenance and repair costs.
When choosing a trading channel, give priority to regularly used car trading markets or check the transparent condition of vehicles through professional platforms (such as Dangchedi). Avoid easily believing in overly cheap cars, and be vigilant against “traps” that are significantly lower than the market price.
Verify vehicle documents: Ask the seller to provide their ID card, purchase invoice, motor vehicle registration certificate, driving license, compulsory insurance policy, and other documents, and check whether the vehicle body number is consistent with the driving license.
2. Vehicle Inspection Skills
Visual inspection
Walk around the car to observe whether the overall lines are smooth and whether the gaps in the doors, trunk, etc., are even.
Touch the paint surface with your hand to feel if it is smooth and fine, and check if there are any traces of post-spray painting.
Check the production date of the glass to ensure it is earlier than the date of manufacture of the entire vehicle.
Interior inspection
Check whether the wear and tear of the seats and steering wheel is consistent with the age of the vehicle. Be cautious of vehicles that have their gauges adjusted.
Check if the seat belts have a musty smell or signs of replacement, and if the trunk has any strange odors, sand, or other signs of water immersion.
Test whether the buttons on the center console, air conditioning, car Windows, and other functions are working properly.
Engine compartment inspection
Check whether the wiring harness in the engine compartment is corroded or aged, and whether there are any signs of tightening on the screws.
Start the engine and listen to whether the sound is smooth. Observe if there is any oil or water leakage.
Open the oil cap and check if there is any black grease or white spray to determine if there is an oil burning problem.
Chassis inspection
Check the chassis for any oil leakage marks, dents, or rust.
Observe whether the suspension system is deformed or misaligned, and whether there are any sheet metal marks in the spare tire compartment.
Dynamic testing
When taking a test drive, pay attention to whether the vehicle starts, accelerates, and decelerates smoothly and whether the steering is flexible.
After warming up the car, press the accelerator to 3000-4000 RPM and hold it for 5-8 minutes to observe if the pointer of the tachometer is stable.
3. Trading Notes
Sign the contract: Specify the basic information of the vehicle, its price, payment method, transfer time, and quality guarantee terms. Require the seller to indicate in the contract that the vehicle has no major accidents and has not been submerged in water, etc.
Verify the vehicle’s historical records: Check the vehicle’s claim records through the insurance company or professional platforms, and retrieve the maintenance and repair records from the 4S store.
Be vigilant against rights defects: Ensure that the vehicle has no unresolved violations or property rights disputes, and verify whether the vehicle ownership is clear.