What to ask when buying a used car?

Buying a used car is a real test that requires a lot of time, effort and nerves. To save yourself from disappointment during the inspection, it is worth checking problematic cars at the stage of the first telephone conversations with sellers. What to ask when calling a used car so as not to crash into scrap metal? We present some of the most important points.

Shortly speaking

Asking about the details of the selected car over the phone is a huge time saver - thanks to a short conversation, you can find out if the seller is not lost in the certificates and whether it is worth looking at the car in person. Ask about formalities as well as technical questions. Find out if the car comes from a Polish distribution, if it was imported from abroad, if the seller is the first owner and why he decided to sell it, what is the history of the car and what kind of repairs the car needs. Lastly, make sure the seller is willing to check the car out at the location of your choice.

Only specifics!

Buying a used car is always a risky business. After all, this is a serious and expensive investment, and you can never be sure that there is a dishonest trader on the other side who is most praised as a gem. So, before you call the seller, be well prepared for this conversation. It is best to write down all the most important questions on a piece of paper and write down the answers regularly - thanks to this, you will feel more confident and will not miss a single important detail.

It is important that you engage in conversation and not allow yourself to be proactive. In the end, it's all about your money - the specifics of the demand, because that's what you will pay for.

Hello, is the car sale ad still in force?

Start your conversation with a salesperson with a simple trick to find out who you are dealing with: the owner of the car or the dealer who pretends to be him. We trust individuals much more, therefore professional salespeople often pretend to showcase their own vehicle. This should be a warning sign - since someone is trying to deceive us from the very beginning, we may suspect that they have something to hide.

So start your conversation with a simple question: is this ad really? The owner will answer right away, because he knows what the offer is. After all, he only sells one car. The seller, who has multiple copies, will have to ask what kind of offer you are asking for. Mat - you will immediately understand who you are talking to.

Is the car registered in Poland?

Simple question, simple answer: yes or no. Expect detailsand if instead you hear the evasive “partially”, keep asking aggressively what additional costs you will have to pay.

Are you the first car owner?

Usually, anyone who decides to buy a used car starts their search with cars sold by the first owners. It's the safest option - then you'll get it some information about the condition and history of the car... After all, whoever has driven the car since picking it up from the dealership knows absolutely everything about it.

If you buy a car from the original owner, you can also assume that he looked after his car with great care. "Novka" directly at the dealer loses about 40% of its value in the first three years of operation.so, rather, any reasonable driver will do their best to keep it in good condition and then resell it without loss.

If the seller you are talking to is not the first owner of the vehicle, you must accept this. you probably won't get all your questions right... Your interlocutor may simply not know them. He knows how many kilometers he traveled and what repairs he made, but he cannot guarantee what happened to the car before he bought it.

What's the story behind the car?

If you ask about the history of a used car, it will give you the opportunity to learn more important details:

• is the car coming from from a Polish salon or was brought from abroad,
• when it was first registered,
• who drove it and how it was used (city driving or long-distance routes),
• what course,
• did he have any bumps,
• is it trouble-free?

The last question is especially problematic, as drivers have different understandings of the term “accident-free”. Some people also view small bumps or dents in parking as an "accident." In the meantime, we only call an emergency vehicle a vehicle that has an accident so serious that airbag opened or all of its components were damaged at the same time: chassis, body and cab.

What engine oil does the car use now?

Of course, not every seller needs to know this - there are people who are not interested in the automotive industry and trust 100% repair or replacement of working fluids to mechanics. However, if the service book of the car is strictly maintained, verifying such information shouldn't be a problem.

The question of engine oil concerns not only the brand, but, above all, the type. The engine of any new car should be lubricated with synthetic oil. – only this lubricant provides an adequate level of protection for the entire system. If the seller replies that he put mineral oil in his car, you can suspect that he was saving on maintenance.

Was the car parked in the garage?

The location where the car is parked affects the state of its coloration - the body of a garage car will look better than one that sits under a cloud all year round.

How much fuel does a car use in a city?

Information about fuel consumption is usually not included in advertising on the Internet portal, so it's worth asking about it - thanks to it you can roughly calculate how much you will spend on refueling per month. If the result surprises you, maybe you should consider buying a car with a smaller and lower fuel consumption engine?

Significantly increased fuel consumption can also indicate the condition of the vehicle. - increased appetite for fuel indicates many malfunctions, incl. clogged air filter, worn spark plugs or injectors, incorrectly adjusted wheel alignment, damaged air mass meter or lambda probe. Of course, you can only be sure of this if you search for a specific car model and compare several cars with similar parameters.

Has the car been repaired recently?

If in answer to this question you hear that it is not so, because it is a needle and you do not need to do anything with it, run away. Every car needs to be done regularly and regularly. - break through the air conditioner, change engine oil, coolant, filters, brake pads or timing. If the seller reports any recent replacements or repairs, ask if you have documents to support them when you inspect the vehicle.

By the way, also find out about Fr. necessary repairs... You are buying a used car, so do not have the illusion that it will not require any additional financial investment from you. It is better to know about this before signing the purchase and sale agreement, because even at the stage of search, you can clarify the budget allocated for the purchase of a car. It is worth emphasizing during your interview that you expect you to have multiple investments and want to know what you need to prepare for. Also appreciate the seller's sincerity. and do not cross out a vehicle requiring replacement of typical wear parts.

When does inspection and insurance expire?

Liability insurance and inspection are other expenses that await you after buying a used car. include them in your budget.

How long have you been driving this car and why are you selling it?

This is a seemingly trivial and chatty question, but it may provide some additional information. Step up extreme vigilance if you find that the seller only drove the car for a few months... This is a common scenario, especially for brands such as Audi or BMW: someone buys a dream car and then realizes that the cost of service exceeds their capabilities.

Finally, ask is it possible to check the condition of the car in the service of your choice. However, you should not raise the issue of price and possible negotiations. Leave it as a conversation point during your inspection so you can try to lower the price with specific arguments, such as the condition of the paintwork or the engine.

Buying a used car is not easy - you can still find dishonest sellers who can scare buyers so much that even the largest scrap metal seems like a real deal. So at every stage of the search, be vigilant and ask for details - detective accuracy can save you from buying a powdered sunken ship.

In the next entry in this series, you will learn how to check the history of a used car. And when you find your dream car, remember that the accessories and parts needed for a minor facelift can be found at avtotachki.com.

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