How to choose a used car: what to look for before buying

Against the background of rising prices in the domestic car market, many Russians began to look closely at used cars. However, there are many risks waiting for motorists here. Izvestia tells us how to check the condition of the car and what nuances should be taken into account before concluding a purchase and sale agreement.

Where to buy a used car

A huge selection of supported cars is represented by many online platforms today. For example, Avito and Auto.ru . The convenience of such services is that the buyer can choose a car according to certain parameters and in a given price category.

In addition, you can set the "Trusted seller" parameter, which significantly reduces the chances of buying a broken or stolen car. It is also possible to contact the seller or an authorized dealer and find out all the questions directly.

You should pay special attention to ads from resellers and legal entities, in particular, taxi companies, as cars with twisted speedometers or restored after an accident are often put up for sale.

In addition, auto experts recommend avoiding car brands that are popular in taxis, so that you don't have to spend money on replacement parts. However, it's worth finding out what the situation is with spare parts anyway, especially when it comes to foreign cars.

How to check the mileage of a car

The average mileage for most cars is about 300,000 km. It is by this time that most expensive parts wear out. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to check if the mileage is twisted is to assess the condition of the main functional elements of the car: steering wheel, pedals, brake pads, tire tread, and others.

But first of all, it's worth exploring the dashboard. When twisting, it often leaves traces in the form of scratches, cracks and irregularities near the fastener. Any suspicion of outside interference in the operation of the mechanism should alert the buyer. Experts interviewed by Izvestia also advise to look at the condition of the paintwork. If you see a lot of chips and scratches, this can also mean a lot of mileage.

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Entries in the service book can also give an idea of the actual mileage of the car. The more actively and for longer the vehicle is used, the more often the owner has to visit the service center. Each such visit is recorded in the service book. If there are corrections in it, this may indicate the seller's bad faith.

Rules for the inspection of a used car

It is recommended to inspect a car for sale in daylight. It would not be superfluous to bring a flashlight and a paint thickness gauge. During the inspection, you should pay attention to the shades of the color of the body, doors, trunk and other parts. If they differ, then most likely one of the elements has been replaced or repainted. It is likely that due to an accident.

You should also carefully inspect the gaps between the body parts, the door sills, the luggage compartment floor, the windows and the interior, including the interior upholstery. And, of course, it's important to check the undercarriage. To do this, start the engine and warm it up to operating temperatures. But you shouldn't move right away. First you need to make sure that there is no gasing. Otherwise, it may indicate a problem.

It is not always easy to inspect a used car yourself. Therefore, it is worth contacting a service center, preferably an official one, where they carry out maintenance and diagnostics of cars of a particular brand.

In addition, before signing a contract, you should check the car owner through a special service. During the check, it may turn out that the car is listed as stolen, is secured by the bank, or enforcement proceedings have been initiated against the seller, which may lead to restrictions on driving.

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How to bring down the price when buying a used car

The cost of a car is influenced by many parameters: car make, year of manufacture, mileage, number of owners, the presence or absence of damage, a complete set of documents and their legal purity, the average market value for similar models and a number of other factors.

Meanwhile, with the right approach, the buyer can significantly save on buying a car. Especially if the seller did not report any defects, which were then discovered during the inspection. For example, you can get a big discount if there was no replacement of consumables in the car with high mileage — belts, chains, oil or filters, Stanislav Babukh, sales director of SberAuto, told Izvestia.

The expert noted that the reason for the price reduction is also damage to the marking plates, the absence of airbags, corrosion of the body and the presence of other malfunctions that will require repair. Another serious reason is that there is no original TCP. In addition, the lack of replacement rubber and a second set of car keys can also be a reason to lower the price.

At the same time, experts advise to follow the rules of bidding. You can find out about the possibility of a price reduction on the first call. But it is worthwhile to proceed to reaching specific agreements only after acquaintance and a thorough inspection of the car.

Earlier, Izvestia named the average cost of used cars in Russia.