How to avoid mistakes when buying a used car

14 tips for choosing a used car

Finding a good used car isn't easy, as anyone who's ever bought a new car knows. These tips will help you avoid making the wrong choice.

Automotive blogger, journalist and writer. Author of the book “Secrets of Automatic Selection”.

1. Don't buy a car with all the money you have.

Leave 10–15% for repairs and unexpected expenses. They will definitely be there, even if the car is a year old and under warranty. Otherwise, the family budget will quickly begin to collapse.

2. Don’t choose a car based on the principle of “something for 400,000 rubles”

Determine for yourself 2-3 models that you will look for. This will help you not to get scattered and make a rash decision based on emotions. Plus, you can study the selected models on the forums, find out their typical problems, maintenance periods and understand the intricacies. All this will make the search much easier.

3. Calculate the average price for the car you are interested in

Most accurately, this can be done manually, remembering fifth grade mathematics, or using the “Price Statistics” tab on the Avto.ru website. Knowing the average price, it will be easier for you to think sensibly, bargain and not fall into the hands of scammers and resellers.

4. Don’t expect someone to sell a good car at a price below average

If a person urgently needs money, he sells the car through intermediaries and receives money instantly. All other cars that are sold at a reduced price are damaged or have legal problems. Or this ad is from scammers.

5. The first conclusions about the car can be drawn from the advertisement

If it contains disgusting photographs and a two-line description like “All questions by phone,” “All maintenance is on time, the car is in perfect condition,” and so on, you don’t even have to call. In 95% of cases it is a reseller.

6. Talking on the phone gives a lot of information and saves time

Ask specific questions that cannot be answered generally. For example, which dealer did the car undergo maintenance? When was the last time the oil was changed? What's new in the car? Is the PTS original? How many owners are registered in the PTS? How long has a person owned a car with a title? Is the person you are talking to an owner or helping someone with a sale? Is there a service book, work orders and receipts? And so on.

7. Always check the documents before inspecting the machine

This can be done on the traffic police website or avtokod.mos.ru, if the car is from Moscow or the Moscow region. You can find out whether a car is pledged on the website of the Federal Notary Chamber.

8. Monitor new offers

The best cars sell in a few days or even hours. Therefore, if you want to get the best possible car at the most attractive price, subscribe to updates on the model you are interested in in the Avito or Avto.ru mobile applications and constantly monitor them.

9. When buying a car at a car dealership, carefully read all clauses of the contract

It should not take more than 5-6 pages. If they brought you a contract, then took it away and brought it again, read it again: there may be changes that are unfavorable for you. If you buy a car on credit, read the terms and conditions with triple attention. Unofficial dealers are very fond of including hidden fees in the price and charging a commission for refusing a deal.

10. To inspect the car, rent a thickness gauge

Look online to see what thickness of paint a particular car model should have, and measure it when inspecting it. True, the thickness gauge is not a panacea, since sometimes cars are painted specifically for the device or minor damage is repaired under CASCO.

You need to look to see if the gaps are the same on different sides of the car, if the paint is knocked off the bolts, if there are traces of paint on the seals and moldings, if the shagreen and paint tone on different parts are different, if the stampings fit together, if the headlights and windows are the same, if they are symmetrical tires are worn out.

11. Don't trust the odometer readings.

The best indication of a car's mileage is the condition of the interior: the driver's seat, steering wheel, armrest and gearshift lever.

12. When test driving, pay attention to all the little things

Check whether the steering wheel is level, whether the car is moving when accelerating and braking, whether something is knocking in the suspension, whether the air conditioning and electrical equipment are working.

13. Before purchasing, take the car to a service center

If you like the car in all respects and you have no doubts, before concluding a sales contract, be sure to go to a service center and at least have the suspension diagnosed. Ideally, there would also be an electric motor. This will cost a maximum of a couple of thousand rubles, but will save you from buying a car in poor condition. In many cases, diagnostics allows us to identify those problems, due to which you can bargain well and certainly recoup its cost.

14. You can enter into a purchase and sale agreement and make changes to the PTS yourself

The main thing is that with one pen and one handwriting. It is better to transfer money to a pre-opened account through a bank cash desk. This will protect you from fakes and fraud.

How to avoid mistakes when buying a used car

Used cars sell better than new ones, because cheapness in a crisis is the most significant purchasing factor. But cheaper is not always better. If a person just got his license yesterday and has not yet encountered the purchase of a used car, then in 75% of cases he is a client of a dishonest “outbid” or “gray” car dealership that will sell him a beautiful wrapper with many problems inside. And those who have already purchased a used car before are not immune from this.

There are a lot of surprises with such a deal. The car may have a low mileage, be in poor technical condition, which sellers are trying to hide, have a broken VIN number, be pledged to a bank, or have forged documents. As a result, instead of joy from the purchase, a person receives only negative emotions and problems.

We talked with specialists from the Avtodoverie company, which has been helping to choose the right used cars since 2013, has grateful reviews from customers and is professionally versed in this issue, and found out what information you need to have before purchasing in order to avoid these problems.

Let's assume that the person did not turn to you, but to some unscrupulous company. How to determine the quality of the services provided in your field if the client does not understand everything well?

You can find out about an unscrupulous company by looking at their website with random numbers about how many clients they had and how they helped them. You can also learn a lot about employees from the first telephone conversation. More than once we have encountered people calling us and saying: “Communication with you and with other companies is heaven and earth.”

Therefore, in order to determine the quality of the company’s services, you just need to call and consult or contact them to check one car. This will make it clear how the selection will take place. It is also useful to ask what is included in their auto diagnostics. This is an important stage. For example, through diagnostics we find out a lot about a car that the previous owner wants to hide.

How is this diagnosis made?

In our company, it consists of 3 stages through which each car goes through before purchase.

1. Initial inspection of the car.

A specialist goes to the seller and takes 30–40 photographs. Fixes every chip, every scratch. Measures the paintwork, performs initial computer diagnostics, visually inspects leaks, engine operation, gearbox, and electrics. Examines vehicle documents and checks them against traffic police databases and collateral databases. Then he test drives the car in various modes. In the evening of the same day, the client receives a report on the car with photographs and a recommendation from a specialist. This way we weed out bad cars.

2. Detailed check of all databases.

If, after the initial inspection, the client likes the car and we recommend it, then we check the car using all available databases: whether the car is pledged, what the seller’s credit history is and what place the chosen car occupies in it, whether there are any fines. Specialists also check the car using the database of the official dealer, insurance companies, check diagnostic cards (when and at what mileage the car was recorded) and find out whether the indicators are real or twisted. These checks reduce possible risks to a minimum.

3. Checking the technical condition at a car service center.

If the car successfully passes the initial inspection, then we carry out its diagnostics in a specialized service partner on a lift. We check whether the serial numbers from the engine and other components of the car are not broken, what is the condition of the engine, gearbox, and axles. We carry out in-depth diagnostics and inspection of the chassis, leaks, and suspension using specialized diagnostic equipment.

What do you do if the seller does not want to go for diagnostics?

If for some reason the seller does not want to come to us for diagnostics, and the car deserves attention, then we promptly coordinate this with our client and make a decision: do the diagnostics at a car service center not far from the seller or continue the search. We don’t accept orders without diagnostics.

We select a car for the client without restrictions on time, number of inspections, checks and diagnostics in the service. We search until victory and consider it fair.

Do you accompany clients throughout the entire transaction? If yes, please describe briefly how this happens.

Yes, of course, we will accompany you. If the client wishes, we meet him at the entrance. If he is from another region, then at the airport or train station. We help you check into a hotel if necessary. Next, we go to the transaction, where we once again carry out diagnostics in the presence of the client: we show the paintwork with a device, perform computer diagnostics, if necessary, put it on the lift again, open and show all the bases online. It is important for us that a person is sure that he is purchasing a “clean” and “honest” car.

We know that you work not only in Moscow, but also beyond its borders. Tell us how this work happens. Are there any drawdowns in quality with work in the regions? Describe the specifics and, if possible, give specific examples of work well done - there are probably some particularly memorable cases.

The largest market for used cars is undoubtedly Moscow. But we have very specific orders that require searching for a car in Moscow. Here, in agreement with the client, we begin to consider other cities.

We had a client Alexey, he contacted us in September 2016 with a request to pick up a Volkswagen Touareg V8 diesel car for him. And this was his principled position. Using its parameters, we found about 35 cars throughout Russia. All the cars that were in Moscow were examined, but none of them suited us: there were twisted runs, body repairs after an accident. When remotely checking cars from other regions, we eliminated many options. The client liked one car in Ufa, although we immediately warned him about the wrong mileage. We flew in, looked, found a welded threshold and returned back to Moscow. Then the situation repeated itself with a car from St. Petersburg, in which our specialist found traces of serious repairs. The search for the car lasted six months. As a result, the market was updated, and we found the desired car in Moscow. The transaction was successful, they helped Alexey with registration. And our friendship continues to this day.

And now about the most interesting part. How do you cope with force majeure circumstances? Tell us not only about the strategy for solving problems, but also about specific cases that are especially vividly imprinted in your memory. Have there been any failures? Tell us about them too.

As with any job, there are also negative reviews. Among 100% of all reviews, there are about 3% of such reviews, and we consider this a very good indicator. Recently there was a case: a girl ordered a turnkey Land Rover Range Rover Evogue car from us with an Approved guarantee and the remainder of the warranty period. We found this car and the client loved it. Without understanding the situation, her brother, who was several thousand kilometers away from the car, on a website dedicated to cars, publicly accused us throughout Russia of twisting the car’s mileage. We did a lot of work: we collected the entire history of the car bit by bit and showed it to him. Afterwards, the client's brother also made a public apology. And the incident was completely resolved.

If a client has complaints after purchasing a car, we always meet halfway, review and check again in front of him. If we find that this was an oversight on our part, we resolve the issue in favor of the client.

I will say more: if force majeure circumstances occur, and it is not our fault, but something happened to the car, we always try to support our client - purchase spare parts at low prices, agree on work to be carried out at cost.

5 Deadly Mistakes When Buying a Used Car

We have collected the most common mistakes made by used car buyers, which lead to bitter disappointment.

The first mistake is not to bargain

Discounts are almost always possible, both when buying a used car second-hand and when buying at a showroom. The size of the discount depends primarily on your bargaining ability, as well as on whether, during the inspection and verification of the car, deficiencies not stated by the seller will be identified.

If you don’t know how or don’t like to bargain, then you should either find among your friends someone who knows how and loves it - for many, bargaining when buying a car is a real adventure and they will gladly agree to help you, or find advertisements on the Internet of people offering similar services.

As a rule, such intermediaries take 10-15 thousand rubles of a fixed fee plus a certain percentage of the amount that can be reduced from the price of the car during the bidding process. It's usually about half the amount, but it's okay to ask if they can give you a better offer. It is quite possible that they will meet you halfway, because sales of cars on the secondary market have fallen following sales from dealers, which means that the work of intermediaries has decreased.

The second mistake is not checking the car before buying

On the Internet there are quite a lot of advertisements from individuals and even organizations involved in checking used cars in the interests of the buyer. The cost of this type of service usually starts from 15 tr, but few people know that the same service can be provided to you in almost any car service center, and it will cost 2-3 times less.

And the owner of a good car will not be afraid to take it to a service center of your choice for inspection. If the owner refuses to check the car for any reason, from “they’ll take it anyway” to reasons like “no time”, “to travel far”, etc., then it’s better for you not to deal with him.

Buying without checking is absolutely not worth it; you may be faced with serious repairs, the costs of which will completely change your idea of ​​​​the profitability of the purchase. For example, here are the tricks that some car sellers go to with a transmission that is not in perfect working order: they pour thicker oil into the transmission to soften the noise, and after changing the oil, the buyer suddenly begins to hear a hum and crunch from the transmission.

If suddenly this happens to you, don’t despair, the RVS Master repair and restoration compound for the transmission can help you, which can be poured into it when changing the oil to compensate for gear repairs without expensive gearbox repairs.

The third mistake is choosing by price

Let's say you want to buy a Ford Focus of a certain year with a certain mileage, say, a 6-year-old, with a mileage of 100-120 thousand kilometers. On ad aggregators like auto.ru or cars.mail.ru you will see the bulk of ads within a fairly narrow price range, in this example it is 330-350 thousand rubles.

Differences in price within this range can be explained either by differences in configuration or simply by the seller’s desire to get money a little faster or a little more profitably, but do not forget that at least a little bargaining is always possible.

However, sometimes you can see the same (seemingly) car 15-20% cheaper than the market, and this is a reason to both be wary and take a closer look.

Many authors of similar articles recommend immediately cutting off such offers as potentially problematic (a car after an accident, with a criminal trail, etc.), but I recommend something else: if you have a lot of time, be sure to respond to this ad and try to understand why is the price below the market?

Indeed, there are negative reasons why the owner wants to get rid of the car - and it is better not to mess with such cars, but there are also neutral ones - for example, he simply needs money, for a very different range of reasons.

And in this case, you have a very real chance to make a super-profitable purchase. Of course, if you take your time and check the cleanliness of the documents and the condition of the car before purchasing.

The fourth mistake is choosing a car that was driven in Europe or America

Cars that were not operated in Russia have an obvious advantage in milder climatic operating conditions (that is, less engine wear from cold starts) and in the better condition of the roads on which this car was driven.

However, when operating in Russia, such cars may have problems with both the suspension and the engine, since not only Russian roads are inferior to Western ones, but the quality of gasoline is completely different. This won’t necessarily happen - car forums can help you collect statistics, but it’s better to know in advance what to prepare for and how much it might cost you.

Surprisingly, the same, at first glance, cars of the same brands, sold in Russian car dealerships, that is, produced for the Russian Federation, are practically free of these shortcomings.

The fifth mistake is after-sales service.

What kind of after-sales service can we talk about if the car is bought second hand - many will think? Of course, after the sale, the former owner will no longer take care of it for you, which means you must complete this mission yourself!

The very minimum that needs to be done is to change the oil, oil filter and other consumables, regardless of how long ago they were changed according to the seller. This is a small expense, but you will definitely be sure that at least minimal prevention has been carried out.

The second step that should be taken to minimize your worries is to carry out preventive treatment of the engine with the repair and restoration composition RVS Master, which is poured into the engine along with oil and forms a protective layer in friction pairs and seals microcracks and microchips in the engine cylinders.

A one-time engine treatment with RVS Master allows you to increase the engine life by an average of 90 thousand kilometers, which will allow you to drive comfortably and enjoy the car until the next resale, or seriously increase your own lifespan of the car.

How to profitably buy a used car - the secrets of successful bargaining

Preparation

Alexander Vasiliev, head of the online car inspection service avtocod.ru

Find out more information

Prepare for your meeting with the seller. Find out information about the car on the traffic police website, check the car in the databases of the Russian Union of Auto Insurers and the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation. Monitor the car in courts and banks. This will give comprehensive information about the car.

If you don’t have the time or desire to search through websites, but you know the license plate number or VIN of the car, use special online checking services. They will help you find out:

• number of former owners;
• mileage;
• legal problems;
• the presence of restrictions on registration actions;
• information about the theft;
• accident history
• customs history, etc.

Get ready for an objective inspection of the car

The bargain must be justified, I won’t just throw it away. I agree to reduce the price if the buyer sees traces of repairs, dents, lack of parts and other technical defects of the car. For myself, I distinguish five types of buyers:

1. Intelligent. They understand cars and are technically savvy. They can reduce the price easily and naturally, giving reasons.
2. Whiners. They constantly whine: “Let’s throw it here, let’s throw it there.” I remember one in particular. He wanted a Subaru in exchange for a Ford with an additional payment. I whined and whined, and in the end I left. 2 weeks pass, he calls again: ready to take. And I already sold the car.
3. Outbids. These flock to cars with prices below the market average. “Trinashka” costs 150 thousand on average in the market. I sold it for 110. For repurchase, this is already “chocolate”. And he still comes and asks to give the car for 90.
4. Fools. People don’t understand cars at all and are ready to take a car for the money you ask.
5. Adequate. It's just nice to talk to people like that. I came across him once, we rode around with him for an hour and a half and talked. But he didn’t take the car. He needed a different type. I told him about it myself and explained why. As a result, he still drives that car.

Check how you can reduce the price

1. The very fact of a used car. You can always reduce the price for routine maintenance. For example, after purchase you will need to change the oil and pads. Conventionally, it costs 10 thousand rubles. That's how much you're asking to take off.
2. Body condition. Often there are repainted parts - this can also bring down the price a little. If there was not an accident, but a car, for example, hit a fence.
3. Buying “here and now”. About 5-10 years ago I often observed at the market: gypsies come and shake a wad of money in front of you. You want to sell the car for 500, but they charge 400 thousand. Here it is, real money, just take it! This works for some sellers.
4. Bargaining with reserve. If you are looking at a Solaris for 500 thousand rubles, you should start bargaining at 460-450 thousand. The seller will refuse, but will offer his own price. You raise the price tag, he lowers it. In the end, agree on an amount that suits both of you.

Checking the car's history beforehand can help lower the price. What specific nuances can play into your hands during bargaining:

1. A large number of owners. If the car has been passed around, it may be technically faulty or have been involved in an accident. You won't know how she was followed. The seller cannot explain why there are so many owners? Don't buy a car. According to our statistics, if the report shows many owners, then in eight out of ten cases other problems are identified with the car - the presence of restrictions, liens, and more.
2. Twisted run. Incorrect mileage is one of the most common problems found in auto history reports. However, it is quite difficult to identify this problem on your own. Pay attention to the interior: cars with high mileage have severely worn pedals, steering wheels, seat upholstery and armrests. But it’s better to ask for a diagnostic card and compare the numbers. If you see a discrepancy, lower the price.
3. Participation in an accident. Road accidents are the most common problem that is identified when checking cars online using online services. Pay attention to areas of damage. If there was a head-on collision, then it is better to abandon the car immediately. A full renovation will take too much money. We saw in the report that there were accidents, but the damage after them was insignificant - a reason to bargain. This is how, by the way, you can identify outbid dealers - they bring damaged cars into perfect condition before selling them. But behind the external shine there are serious problems that can pose a danger to the lives of the driver and passengers. So if a used car looks like new, this is also a reason to think about it and carefully check the history of the car.
4. Failed maintenance. If the seller does not show a valid insurance policy or diagnostic card, be wary: the car may not have passed inspection. This is a reason for a discount, as well as a technical condition check, as soon as possible.
5. The car is pledged, loaned, seized. Be wary if, when inspecting the car, there is no STS, original PTS, or a duplicate indicates that the car has been used for less than three years. If there are such moments when meeting with the seller, show that you do not trust and ask for a discount. Perhaps the “iron horse” was purchased on credit, is in collateral or is under arrest. When buying such a car, there is a risk of shelling out a round sum from your wallet to pay off the debts of the previous owner or being left without a car altogether.

How will the seller behave?

Our experts told us how private traders, people from showrooms, car markets and resellers behave when selling.

Evgeny Loginov, director of the car selection company “My Expert”

With “outbids” it happens differently.
Their price tag, like that of showrooms, depends on how much they bought the car for. If it is significantly below the market, without serious damage and technically sound, it is unlikely that they will discount it - they will buy such a car without a discount. When a car has a dark history or is damaged, the “outbidder” will willingly accept a discount. There is often a risk that a discount on purchase is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of further maintenance. Deal with sellers carefully. The same reseller is easy to identify. The main thing is to know how.

Daniil Rogozinnikov, psychologist

A dishonest seller will fuss, answer questions vaguely, and rush into a decision. A characteristic microsmile and a gaze directed to the right and upward will give him away. The seller initially indicates the price taking into account negotiations. He knows in advance how much he can throw off. The main thing is for the buyer to understand this and try not to go too far.

How you should look and what you should say

Keep track of the little things, be attentive but relaxed. Ask for a discount if you don’t have a second set of keys or tires. Is your car ceiling smoky and you need to dry clean the interior? Also a reason to bargain.

How to get a big discount

Alexander Nikonov, car enthusiast with 11 years of experience, used car buyer

The seller and I looked at the car together and noticed a large scratch on the doors. He said that he wasn’t going to paint it because it doesn’t affect the driving performance. The frame of the “TV” was jammed and hidden under a decorative overlay. The hood did not close as it should, as if there had been a slight blow. We decided with the seller that we would agree on the price. From 360 thousand rubles. I managed to lose 20 thousand.

Tips for used car buyers

Experts advise taking a comprehensive approach to choosing a car: studying advertisements, searching for information about the car in various services, and using common sense when inspecting it.

Alexander Vasiliev, head of the online car inspection service avtocod.ru

Often, car owners inflate the mileage, hide the fact of an accident, legal problems, “taxi driver past” or indicate inaccurate information about the equipment in the ad. Check the car’s history even at the stage of working with advertisements through the websites of federal services or special services. If you find problems in your auto history, you shouldn’t even call the seller. Why waste time inspecting an unreliable car? Better save your time and continue searching for a reliable option.

Each sales case is individual. If there are scratches on a car with 10 years of experience, it’s not a big deal. It's worse when they decorate a car from a previous year of production. Then it’s worth taking a closer look at the car. You may have a good chance to negotiate a certain amount. But if the car was involved in an accident, this chance is unlikely to bring much pleasure in the future. Don't be fooled by the low price tag. Problem cars usually have low prices. It’s better to immediately look at cars in the middle and high price categories and get ready to bargain.

Alexander Nikonov, car enthusiast with 11 years of experience, used car buyer

I advise you to read the forums, because the base has already been accumulated. Every car has problems and problems that need to be looked at first. This is rust, oil-guzzling engines, and attachments. If the previous owner did not fix the problem, you can end up with a lot of money.

I helped buy eight cars. When meeting with the seller, keep yourself calm and balanced. The less you say, the more the owner reveals. I just examined, touched, opened. The seller, apparently, begins to panic and tells in more detail, after which he lowers the price.

Secrets of a used car: how not to make a mistake when buying

Sergey Petrov , director of the service for buying and selling used cars Ready Motors: “It is important to have complete and objective information about the car you are planning to purchase. To do this, it is necessary that the car undergoes an independent technical examination and a check of legal purity. Otherwise, you may be in for a lot of unpleasant surprises.”

When you come across incredibly cheap offers, it’s worth thinking about: even if you’ve dreamed of a sports car all your life, this is not a reason to pounce on a car 4-5 times cheaper than the market value. First of all, check the documents for the car: technical passport and service book. Be sure to check all the data, including the numbers indicated there. Be careful: a difference of just 1-2 digits may mean that the documents have been falsified. It’s good if the car has recently passed technical inspection. You probably won't have to go to a service station any time soon.

Start your inspection with the exterior of the car. Examine the body centimeter by centimeter. If no external damage is found, try to find out if the car has been repainted. Do not forget that changing the paintwork can mean not only the aesthetic preferences of the owner, but also an accident or, for example, deep rust, which they are trying to disguise in this way.

Does the car have a number of minor damages? It will be useful to study the experiences of other car owners. If this kind of defect is typical for this model, there is no need to look for additional reasons. Sometimes a crack in the windshield appears over time due to design features. None of the forum members mention this problem? Most likely, this is the result of an accident that the owner wants to hide.

Sergey Petrov , director of the service for buying and selling used cars Ready Motors: “It is very important to distinguish between minor defects, which can become a reason for bargaining and will not cause you much inconvenience, and serious problems. The former can be to your advantage: they will help reduce the cost of the car. But the latter will turn into a real headache.”

Take the time and effort to study the car. Observe his behavior. For example, any turbine drives oil, you need to be prepared for this. But if after a couple of hours a whole liter leaks, this indicates a turbine malfunction and is fraught with its replacement and costly repairs. Moreover, the car may have other defects that caused the turbine to fail. Think about whether the game is worth the candle. Be sure to check the on-board computer for errors.

Listen to the engine. To do this, start the car and open the hood. The engine should sound smooth, without clicking, grinding or whistling. Please note that due to any problems with the engine it will have to be rebuilt. And this will add another fifty thousand rubles to the cost. No matter how much the owner swears by his favorite football team, this car may cost you too much. Bargain or refuse the purchase.

Many defects are almost impossible to detect immediately. They are revealed only after a couple of weeks or even months of operation. But there are also less important factors. The owner proudly declares that the interior is trimmed with Mexican jerboa leather? There are many high-quality leather substitutes, so it is not at all a fact that you will be able to distinguish it from real leather. The question is: do you really need seats from the aforementioned jerboa? Do you want to overpay for them?

A special story is the conclusion of a transaction; competent legal support and execution of documents in full compliance with the law are important here. Very often, the buyer and seller, by verbal agreement, fix an underestimated amount in the contract. However, if for some reason you decide to refuse the transaction, but have already paid the seller, you are unlikely to be able to return the entire amount. Do not leave blank fields: it is unknown what will be written in them later.

What problems did you encounter when buying a used car?