Buying a used car: checks
What to check before buying a used car: VIN history, documents, body and engine condition, the test drive and how to close the deal safely.

[ ] Budget an extra 10–15% for post-purchase fixes
    Even a well-kept car reveals small things after purchase: pads, belts, an overdue fluid change. Set the buffer aside now, not on a credit card next month.
[ ] Run a VIN history check before the viewing
    A VIN check service reveals accident history, odometer rollbacks, title issues and open loans. A free 10-minute check filters out half the listings before you waste a trip.
[ ] Match the VIN on the body to the documents
    Find the VIN stamped on the body (usually under the hood or in a door jamb) and match it to the title character by character — even one different digit means a mismatched or altered VIN.
[ ] Check the title is an original, not a duplicate
    A duplicate title often means the original is held by a bank as loan collateral that hasn't been paid off yet. Ask the seller directly why a duplicate was issued.
[ ] Match the seller's ID to the car's documents
    The seller should be the owner listed on the title, or hold a notarized power of attorney with the right to sell. Otherwise the real owner can contest the sale later.
[ ] Check how many owners the car has had
    Several owners within a couple of years is worth asking about — it can signal disputed sales or a problem previous owners quietly walked away from.
[ ] Ask for the service book and repair invoices
    A real maintenance history tells you more than the seller's word ever will. Check that the mileage in the records lines up with the odometer.
[ ] Compare the odometer to actual wear
    A worn steering wheel, pedals and driver's seat on a car with a suspiciously low reading don't add up. Odometer rollback is common on the used market.
[ ] Inspect the car in daylight and dry weather
    Rain and dusk mask signs of bodywork and paint color mismatches. Reschedule if the weather's wrong — it's not a minor detail.
[ ] Bring a paint thickness gauge or someone who knows cars
    A paint thickness gauge spots repainted panels in a couple of minutes — a sign of serious repair work after a crash, even when everything looks flawless.
[ ] Check underneath for leaks
    Oil or coolant stains under the parking spot are more honest than a suspiciously clean engine bay that may have been hosed down for the viewing.
[ ] Arrive when the engine is cold
    Time the visit so the engine hasn't been running. A warmed-up engine hides knocking, smoke on startup and hard-start issues — classic problems sellers don't mention.
[ ] Take a proper test drive
    Check acceleration, braking (the wheel shouldn't pull to one side), and listen for odd noises at different speeds and over bumps.
[ ] Check the tires and spare wheel
    Uneven tread wear points to suspension or alignment issues. Make sure a spare, jack and lug wrench are actually in the trunk.
[ ] Test all the electronics
    Power windows, AC, stereo, central locking, seat heaters — switch each one on yourself rather than taking the seller's word for it.
[ ] Get an independent inspection
    An inspection at a shop of your choosing, paid by you, is the best money you'll spend in this whole deal. If the seller refuses to let the car go for a check, that's a red flag — walk away.
[ ] Put the full sale price in the contract
    An underreported price "to save on taxes" shifts the risk to you — that lower figure is what gets refunded in a dispute or cancellation, not what you actually paid.
[ ] Hand over money only at the point of transfer
    Pay when the paperwork for the ownership transfer is actually being filed, and get a signed receipt with the amount, date and the seller's ID details — never earlier, on a verbal promise.
[ ] Re-register the car on time
    Check how many days you have to register the car in your name after the purchase — miss the deadline and you risk a fine, while tickets in the meantime can complicate things for both of you.
[ ] Get insurance right away
    Don't drive off uninsured, even just to get the car home. Set up a policy online in advance, dated for the day of the deal, so you can legally drive away right after signing.
[ ] Don't buy on the day of the first viewing on impulse
    After the excitement of a great listing, sleep on it before signing and run through this checklist again. A genuinely great deal like this one shows up roughly once a week, not once ever.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/used-car-check