How to properly inspect a car when buying

How to check a car: procedure

According to statistics, 30% of Russians who bought a used car, during the first month of using it, identify a huge number of problems, the elimination of which requires large financial costs. How to avoid such a situation? "Autocode" will tell you how to check a car before buying.

Content

Procedure

We recommend that you carry out the first check of the car at the stage of viewing advertisements. Choose the options you like, write down the license plates and check the cars using the Autocode service. The system will issue a report with a detailed history of the car. If the information in the ad contradicts the report data, it is better to immediately abandon this option and not waste time meeting with the seller. Most often, sellers hide the real mileage, number of owners, work in a taxi and participation in an accident.

Start the meeting by checking your documents. Next, proceed to a visual inspection of the car. After that, take it for a test drive. Finally, go with the seller to the service station. Specialists will identify all the technical flaws of the machine. This will allow you to bargain or even refuse to buy a bad vehicle.

Documentation check

Before buying a used car, it is important to check the documentation:

• PTS;
• vehicle registration certificate;
• seller's passport.

Make sure that there are no special stickers or marks on the PTS. What's the catch here? Marks are placed in cases where the body or engine numbers are interrupted, unreadable or unreadable.

Be wary if the seller provides you with a duplicate title. A duplicate PTS is issued if the original was lost or damaged, and also if there are no free lines left to enter the owners of the car. Therefore, you need to check with the seller how many owners the car had and for what reason the duplicate was made.

But don’t rush to refuse to buy a car just because it’s a duplicate. Check your car using the Autocode service. If the verification data does not contradict the seller’s words, then there is nothing to fear. If the service reports that the vehicle had two or more owners, and the seller claims that he is the first and last owner, then it is better to refuse the transaction.

Be sure to check the data from the seller’s passport with the data specified in the PTS. Even small differences in documents may subsequently lead to you not being able to register the car.

Checking your car for fines

There is always a possibility of purchasing a car with outstanding fines. Often, sellers themselves do not know about the debts to the traffic police, but sometimes they deliberately withhold information so that all debts fall on the new owner.

Of course, if you buy such a car, you cannot be forced to pay these fines; this is the responsibility of the former owner. However, there are situations when, due to non-payment of fines, registration restrictions are imposed on the car. In this case, the new owner will not be able to register the car.

To identify the presence of fines, you can use the following services:

To check a vehicle through the official website of the traffic police, you need to know both the license plate number of the car and the number of the registration certificate. To check using the Autocode service, you just need to know the license plate number of the car. At the same time, from the report, in addition to the history of fines, you will learn data on mileage, technical inspections, compulsory motor liability insurance, restrictions and much other important information.

Checking the car for collateral

If a car owner takes out a loan secured by a vehicle or a car loan, then the car is collateral. If you do not know this information when purchasing, then the bank or mortgage holder may subsequently oblige you to repay the loan or collect the collateral from you.

You should not immediately refuse to buy if the car is pledged to the bank. Sometimes credit institutions themselves put up for auction and sell interesting models at a fairly low price.

How to check whether a car is considered collateral? To do this, you can use the following sites:

To check a car through the registry of the notary chamber, you need to know information about the pledgor, the registration number of the notice and the VIN of the vehicle. For Autocode, a VIN or license plate number is sufficient.

Mileage check

More than 50% of car sellers inflate mileage. This procedure costs from 1,000 to 3,000 thousand, while the owner increases the cost of the car when selling it by a larger amount.

You can check the veracity of mileage data in several ways:

• check documents;
• carry out a proper inspection of the vehicle;
• contact specialists.

Check for participation in traffic accidents

More than 75% of cars have been in an accident at least once, and sellers often try to hide this fact.

If during inspection of the car you notice signs of repair, check the car using Autocode. From the report you will find out where, when and what type of accident the car was involved in.

Checking for restrictions

Beware of car purchases that are subject to restrictions. We have prepared a special material in which we talk about restrictions on cars and what they can mean for the new owner.

In what cases are restrictions imposed:

• if the customs authorities have suspicions that the vehicle was cleared through customs under a “gray” scheme;
• if the vehicle is the subject of a dispute in court;
• if the owner of the car is obliged by court to pay a bailiff a certain amount of money

You can check your car for restrictions on the official website of the traffic police. To do this, you need to know the VIN code or chassis number.

The check can also be carried out through the official website of the bailiffs. To do this, you need to know the owner’s passport details, SNILS or TIN.

Users of the Autocode service can find out about the restrictions imposed on the vehicle by the license plate number.

Checking a car for theft

If you purchase a used car that is listed as stolen, there is a chance that you will have to sue the owner who has turned up. In 85% of such situations, the judge obliges the new owner to return the vehicle to its real owner. In this case, you will lose not only the car, but also the money spent on it. It is unlikely that you will be able to get your money back from a fraudster who hid the fact of the theft during the transaction.

To check, you can use the following methods:

• check through the official website of the traffic police;
• together with the seller, deregister the car (if the car is stolen, the seller will not be able to carry out this action).

You can also use Autocode and get a more detailed report about the car in just 5 minutes.

Testing for work in a taxi

"Autocode" provides its users with the opportunity to check whether the vehicle is registered with official taxi services.

If a service check gives you such information, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Such a machine, even if it is relatively young, has most likely practically exhausted its service life. That is, you will face constant repairs that require large financial investments.

Checking a car for recycling

These days, a new fraud scheme has emerged among unscrupulous car owners. They deregister the vehicle, dispose of it, and try to sell the vehicle as soon as possible at a fairly low price. As a rule, buyers are attracted by cheapness. But needless to say, it will not be possible for you to register such a vehicle. Money will be thrown away.

Whether the car was scrapped or not can be found out from the Autocode report. To do this, just enter the license plate number of the car.

In addition, you can contact the traffic police with a statement. However, this will require the personal presence of the car owner. Or you can use the official website of the traffic police. In this case, you need to know the VIN.

Technical check

Technical verification is no less important than legal verification. During it, you will be able to visually identify all the shortcomings and defects of the vehicle. We will tell you how to properly check.

When checking a car, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:

• tire wear;
• presence of corrosion;
• paintwork;
• replacement of body parts;
• repairs on the slipway;
• motor operation.

To entrust the technical inspection to a specialist, use the on-site inspection service. An expert will be on site at the right time and will examine the car using special instruments.

A test drive is an integral part of checking the technical condition of a car. If the seller of a used car insists that he does not have time to drive around the city, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Most likely, serious shortcomings that appear while driving are being hidden from you.

Before the test drive, ask the seller what investments will be needed after purchase. Most often, under the guise of minor flaws, quite large problems are hidden that will require a lot of money. Carefully remember all the faults that the seller mentions. They will have to pay more attention during the test drive.

While driving, go at both low and higher speeds. Check for any unusual noises or knocks. For example, if the steering wheel vibrates when driving, this may subsequently lead to replacing the box. And such a procedure costs at least 30,000 rubles.

Checking the car with the help of specialists

If you are not confident in your own abilities, then it is better to have your car checked by specialists - at a diagnostic center or service station.

Be careful when choosing a service station. You should not ask the seller for advice, since outbids have an agreement with the station employees. You will not be able to get reliable information from them.

It is better to choose a service station that specializes specifically in your car brand for the following reasons:

• the craftsmen are well versed in this model;
• there is specialized equipment;
• There is diagnostic software on your computer.

Avoid dealerships. The price there is high, and the service leaves much to be desired.

Ask the service station master all the questions that arose during the inspection. A competent worker will easily tell you whether parts have been replaced, painted or otherwise manipulated with the car, which can later cause you a lot of trouble.

Now you know how to check a car before buying. Good luck!

We have collected all the most important information about purchasing a car in the book “Buying a Used Car Safely.” Download the book for free on our website!

How to buy a car?

Weed out dubious ads

Write down the characteristics of the desired car and the maximum amount you are willing to pay. To simplify your search, use filters on sites with for sale advertisements. Questionable offers can be identified based on several criteria.

You need to leave a deposit or prepayment. If you are offered to make a deposit or an advance payment so that the car is not sold, do not agree. This is what scammers do.

The price is too low. If a car costs 2-3 times cheaper than similar options, be wary. This could be a car without documents, in collateral or with limited registration. They greatly underestimate the price of stolen cars and “shifters” - cars after an accident, assembled in parts.

Foreign numbers. If the car has foreign plates, it will be difficult to register it. Often such numbers turn out to be fake, and the car is listed as stolen. When registering with the traffic police, the car may be confiscated - then you will be left without money and without a car.

Numbers from another region. The situation is similar with license plates from another region - the car can also be reported stolen. Find out why the seller is selling the car in another region. Carefully check the documents of the owner and the car.

No documents. If the seller shows a duplicate of the certificate, vehicle passport, and the MTPL policy lists a bank or credit institution as the insured, the car is pledged. Ask the owner to provide the original PTS: if there is no document, this is a reason to refuse the deal.

Registration ban. If the ad says the car has registration restrictions, don't buy it. The former owner could scrap the car and then sell it to you - such a car will no longer be registered.

If you find a suitable ad, arrange an inspection of the car.

Inspect the car before purchasing

Ask the seller to prepare documents for the car in advance. If for some reason he cannot provide a PTS, STS or other papers, refuse the inspection.

What to compare:

• VIN in the serial book, PTS, STS and on the car body;
• license plates on a car with numbers in the STS;
• number of the engine and other parts on the car with data from the title.

Bring work gloves and a good camera to your inspection so you can take pictures and compare with other options. Choose a place where you can take a test drive. If the seller names a remote place and asks for a specific amount for a deposit, refuse the meeting.

Inspect the body. Check for chips, scratches and varnish thickness. Open the trunk and hood - if the car has been repainted, traces of the old coating will be visible.

Check the keys. The seller must have two keys. Check each one to see if they open the door and start the engine.

Inspect the engine. It should be clean, but not shiny with cleanliness.

Check out the interior. If the interior is clean, but there is a pungent and unpleasant smell, it will not disappear even after dry cleaning.

If you are not well versed in cars and do not know a car enthusiast, it is better to undergo an additional technical inspection at a car service center. A complete diagnosis at a car service costs 1.5-5 thousand rubles.

Check the documents

Make sure that the car is not stolen, is pledged to the bank, there is no ban on registration, and all design changes have been approved. To do this you need to check the VIN. Enter it on the traffic police website. Using the service, you can check the registration history, whether the car is listed as stolen, or whether it is pledged to the bank.

You can also check the VIN at a dealership. If the check shows that the car does not match the model and make, the VIN is fake. If the make and model are the same, but the interior came with white leather seats, but the seats on sale are completely different, the car may have been completely rebuilt.

Check the seller's documents. Ask him to show his passport and compare the data with the owner’s documents for the car and the issued insurance policy. If the seller and the owner are not the same person, ask for a power of attorney to sell the car.

If you can, call the owner and ask him:

• whether he gave consent to draw up a power of attorney and sell the car;
• who is the seller related to the owner;
• where the car was sold and where it was serviced before the sale.

Answers must match the information in the documents. Ask the owner about the car’s features, hidden and external damage.

Refuse to purchase if the seller does not have the originals of any documents or does not provide the owner’s contact information.

Draw up a purchase and sale agreement

If the documents for the car and the owner’s papers are in order, proceed to the transaction. The owner of the car must be present at the meeting: he must sign the title and the purchase and sale agreement. Without these signatures, you will not be able to register the car with the traffic police and register it in your name.

It is better to conclude a purchase and sale transaction in the morning or afternoon, preferably in a notary's office or with lawyers: they will prepare a purchase and sale agreement, acts of acceptance and transfer of the car, and a receipt for receipt of money. After signing the contract, ask for six copies to be made.

3 copies for the seller, 3 copies for the new owner: 1 - for registration with the traffic police, 1 - with the tax office, 1 - just in case.

Sign the acceptance certificate only after the fact. The document must indicate:

• the car itself;
• 2 sets of keys;
• registration certificate;
• PTS with signatures;
• diagnostic inspection card;
• 3 copies of the agreement with signatures of both parties.

If the former owner's MTPL policy has not expired, ask him to renew the insurance for himself.

It is better to pay the seller in a public place where there are CCTV cameras and witnesses. You cannot go to a meeting alone.

When drawing up a contract, check the accuracy of the passport data, STS, PTS and VIN. There should be no spaces in the columns in the contract - always put a dash so that the seller does not enter unnecessary information. If you made a mistake while filling it out, ask for another copy; you cannot cross out what is written or leave blots in the contract. Check the signatures and details of both parties. The agreement must be either fully printed with fields to fill out, or handwritten.

In the receipt and in the purchase and sale agreement, in the “Price” column there should be the actual amount that you pay to the seller. Resellers ask to lower the price in order to pay less tax on the purchase. If you write a smaller amount, an unscrupulous seller may demand the return of allegedly unpaid money for the car.

Register your car with the traffic police

After concluding a purchase and sale agreement, you have 10 working days to issue an insurance policy and register the car with the traffic police.

If you are going to change the license plate, ask the seller to deregister the car. Changing and registering new license plates with the traffic police costs 2,000 rubles. If you keep the numbers, you only need to pay the state fee - 850 rubles.

After registering with the traffic police, the car is completely at your disposal.

• Before buying, check the car documents, VIN number and owner documents
• Always ask the owner's documents for the car and his passport
• Require the owner's personal presence at the conclusion of the transaction
• Do not give a deposit or make an advance payment for the car.
• When concluding a contract, draw up a transfer and acceptance certificate for the car and documents
• Write in the contract only the amount that you paid to the seller.

How to inspect a used car

In order not to make a mistake with the purchase

I worked as a trade-in salesman for an official car dealer.

Over the years, I have attended dozens of used car inspections. I'll tell you how to check a used car when buying.

I will write a separate article on how to choose a car based on an ad. In short: if the number is hidden in the ad, the VIN code is not indicated, or the price is lower than the market price, this is a reason not to trust the seller. In this article, we will consider a situation when you have already selected several suitable options and you need to choose the best one from them.

Checking against databases

Even before the in-person inspection, be sure to check the car according to the database. You may not have to go for an examination after this.

To check against the databases, you need to know VIN, or wine code, - this is the individual identification number of the car. Sometimes sellers immediately indicate it in the ad, sometimes they hide it. If you like the ad, but there is no VIN code, ask the seller to send it. If the seller refuses, explain that the VIN code itself is not a secret: anyone can look it up on a plate under the windshield. If the seller flatly refuses to send you the VIN code, just don’t buy such a car.

In addition to the VIN code, you will need the full name of the car owner. With this information, we will check the car in open sources: on the traffic police website, FSSP and in the Autocode service.

Traffic police website. In the special section, enter the VIN code. We see how many owners the car had, whether accidents involving it were registered, whether there are restrictions on registration actions, and whether the car is wanted.

Service "Autocode". If the car is from Moscow, then using this service and the VIN code you can also check it against Moscow databases. It's free. Be careful: there are sites on the Internet that are similar in design, where an inspection report costs 250-300 rubles. Checking on Autocode is free.

FSSP. We check the car itself using the VIN code, and the seller using the full name. On the website of the Federal Bailiff Service, you can check the owner for the presence of enforcement proceedings. If there is enforcement proceedings against the owner for debts, his car may be taken away and sold.

An example of checking a car on the traffic police website. The database is updated daily

On the website of the Federal Notary Chamber you can check the owner of a car by full name and passport number. There you can check the car by VIN code for collateral.

The car with this VIN code is pledged to Plus Bank

What to take for examination

Thickness Gauge - You can rent one, but learn how to use it first. The thickness gauge shows the thickness of the paint layer. Too much paint is an indirect sign of an accident.

Flashlight - you can use it to illuminate the engine compartment or parts of the body.

Where and how to inspect a car

The car must be inspected clean, in the light and not in a cramped garage, but in a spacious room or in the open air. This way you have a better chance of seeing imperfections in the paintwork, possible traces of an accident and body repairs.

Inspecting a car in an underground parking lot under dim artificial lighting is dangerous: you can easily miss defects. If the car is parked close to other cars or to a fence, ask to drive it to a free area. If the car is dirty, ask the seller to wash it. A normal seller won't mind.

If the car is parked in a cramped and dark parking lot, ask the seller to move it to a spacious and well-lit area. If you look around in a parking lot like the one in the photo, it's easy to miss defects.

During the inspection, we first check the documents: vehicle passport (PTS) and vehicle registration certificate (VRC).

If the car has had up to four owners inclusive, then it is very desirable that the title be original. A duplicate PTS could be issued simply to replace the disposed one if the space in the old passport ran out. Or they could have issued it in exchange for the lost one - I do not recommend buying cars with such a title. There is a risk that this is a stolen duplicate car or a car recovered after a serious accident and written off by the insurance company.

The reason for replacing the PTS is indicated in the “Special notes” column.

If the seller is a private individual, he must be included in the PTS and STS. This makes him the owner of the car. Check that the owner’s full name in the PTS matches the seller’s data in the passport. As a last resort, the husband can sell the wife's car.

If the seller says that he is the brother, friend or matchmaker of the owner, be wary. Most likely, this is a private reseller who resells low-quality cars. Such businessmen buy a car in poor condition at a price below the market price - after an accident or with a mileage of several hundred thousand kilometers. Then they repair it as cheaply as possible, increase the mileage and try to sell it at the price of a good car.

The body is one of the key elements of a car. Your safety depends on its condition. A body restored after a serious accident is unpredictable in the event of a repeat accident. At the same time, a minor accident in which only the attached elements were damaged is not critical for the body.

One way to check that the body is intact is to look at the bolts that secure the parts to each other. Sometimes, in order to hide traces of intervention after changing a part, the bolts are painted. To determine the actual condition, run your fingers along the surface of the bolt. If it is factory, it will be smooth and without scuffing. If it was unscrewed, marks will remain on it. The same applies to the inside of the wing - in the factory state it is smooth and even.

Assess the condition of bolts and attachments. It's good if they don't have burrs from a wrench. Also pay attention to the shape of the fasteners - they should be smooth, as in the photo. The surface is smooth, without scoring, and the bolt is in the factory color

The gaps between the body panels must be uniform throughout the entire junction of the body panels.

If the gaps between similar parts on the right and left sides of the car differ in thickness, this is an indirect sign of an accident in the history of the car.

If you are buying a car yourself, I recommend looking at several options for one model. This way you will understand which gaps are normal and which are not. The fact is that cheap cars from the factory may have poor build quality, and the gaps will be large or uneven.

Please note that the hood runs straight along the bumper, but the headlight sticks out a little. This is the norm for this Kia-Sid model. Sometimes, to understand the permissible limits, you need to look at several cars of the same model. If the gaps are obviously uneven, then most likely the car was involved in an accident. Source: malceva.mostlux.ru

Paintwork

Experts can identify painted parts by eye and touch, but the average car enthusiast is better off using a thickness gauge.

Pay attention to the color of adjacent body elements. If there is a difference between the shades, the car may have been repainted. Different tones between plastic and metal elements are the norm for mid- and economy-class cars.

Run your fingers along the end of the body element. A factory-painted surface is smooth, while a repainted surface is rough and convex, like an orange peel.

The thickness gauge must be calibrated and applied strictly perpendicularly

Glass marking

There is no uniform standard for glass marking. Each manufacturer encrypts data about the year of manufacture in its own way. If you do not understand the features of a particular car, compare the markings with other glass on the same car.

The number 16 is the year the glass was produced. Here they are from 2016, just like the car. Instead of 16 there can be 6 - this also indicates the year of manufacture of the glass

A 2016 car may have 2015 glass. But glass produced after the year the car was assembled can only appear on it as a result of replacement. The glass could have been replaced due to an accident or wear and tear. If the glass has been replaced, it is important to understand the reason and carefully check the nearest body elements.

The automaker's logo indicates that this glass is original. When repairing after an accident, they usually install cheap Chinese glass Xyg, SAT, Benson.

The same goes for body parts. If there is a car brand logo on the hood, that’s good. If not, then the hood is most likely not original, but from an accident.

Engine compartment

Under the hood, look at the internal body parts and the condition of the engine. The main strength elements are the wing spars and flanges.

The lower square tubes are the spars. There should be no creases, traces of welding or deformation on them. In the photo the spar on the right, with gray marks, is after repair: it was damaged in an accident

The metal at the top of the engine compartment is the fender flange. It should be smooth, without creases or cracks. The thickness of the paint layer according to the thickness gauge on the internal elements of the body should not exceed 150 microns. The sealant at the joints of the parts must be applied evenly.

Spars with traces of deformation, rust, or incipient cracks indicate either a serious accident or poor condition of the body.

You can often determine the mileage of a car based on the condition of the interior. It is usually indicated by wear and tear on the steering wheel, pedals and seats.

Sometimes, in order to hide high mileage, sellers change all the elements in the cabin that show signs of intensive use: the driver's seat, gear lever, dashboard buttons, upholstery, and so on.

One of the key indicators of a car's condition is mileage. Sellers often twist the odometer readings, so you have to guess about the actual mileage based on indirect evidence. Scratches and abrasions indicate that the car has been driven a lot for a long time. If the steering wheel is in the same condition as in the photo, sellers often reupholster it. This can be understood by the rough stitching or the material being different from other similar machines. An altered steering wheel is not a gift to you, but an attempt to hide the mileage. Source: iconsult.by Worn pedals also indicate a high mileage - certainly more than 100,000 km. Source: rocketmotors.ru

On the other hand, the condition of the interior depends on the thriftiness of the owner. If the interior is bad, most likely the owner did not take good care of the car. The make and model of the car also influence the wear resistance of materials in the cabin. I recommend researching the durability of the materials in the car model you are interested in. To do this, you can watch a series of videos on YouTube from auto selectors and reviewers. Then you need to inspect several used cars of this model with mileage. This way you will know which damage is typical for the interior of this car and which is not.

Look in the interior for uneven gaps between trim elements. This may be a sign of repairs after an accident. Traces of a panel rupture in the airbag area are a very bad signal and an indirect sign of a serious accident.

During an accident, airbags deploy sharply and forcefully. At the same time, the plastic parts of the interior are torn and the fastenings of the trim parts are broken. If a used car has crooked gaps between the interior panels, and seams or bumps are visible where the airbags fly out, there is a high probability that this car was in a serious accident. Source: hellhoundcustom.ru They can restore the steering wheel this way: they just put everything back. Source: airbagrostov.ru

Check your car with a scanner

When you have already chosen a used car and are ready to buy it, check the electronics with a diagnostic scanner. Scanners can be portable - for checking a car on site - and stationary - for working at a service station (service station). I recommend going to a service station of an official dealer and having it diagnosed there. The price depends on the brand and model, on average 3000-5000 rubles.

An airbag error may indirectly indicate a serious accident. A gearbox error is a reason to have it checked carefully at a service center. The more expensive the car, the more sensors it has and the more relevant this check is.

How to check it yourself when buying a used car

March 31, 2018 0:33 28

You need to buy a used car wisely. Photo: Victor GUSEYNOVvguseynov

Then she will travel, and the money will remain safe. Otherwise, you can lose it completely, and even be left with debts.

Show me your document!

First of all, we require the original passport - PTS, registration certificate, we check the owner’s data with the owner’s passport, the year of manufacture of the car with the declared one, and the long VIN number with the numbers on the body. If there is a frame number, which is usually required for an SUV, then we check that too. It should be readable perfectly, rust and scuffs on the numbers are a risk that the traffic cop will refuse to register the car.

You can check your car for theft or registration ban on the State Traffic Inspectorate website www.gibdd.ru in the “Vehicle Check” section. A copy of the PTS (vehicle passport) with a new car is a sign of a credit car: usually in this case the original passport is in the bank.

— To check whether a car is pledged to a bank, you need to go to the website of the Notary Chamber, check the car in the register of pledge notifications (reference section on www.notariat.ru. - Ed.) and get an extract. Even if suddenly there is a bank that demands that you give it back the car it has pledged, the statement will confirm the good faith of the purchaser, and the bank will leave you alone and go look for the debtor who sold the car, advises Sergei Litvinenko, head of the online automobile service for free advertisements.

Interrogation with predilection

Ask the seller four questions:

— What accidents has the car been in?

— Is the paint on the body original?

— Are there any modifications - in the fuel system, electronics and electrics, suspension, brakes, steering?

If he fusses, mumbles, gets angry, refuses diagnostics, we say goodbye and leave. If the seller says everything to the point and smoothly, then we go further to look.

Physical examination

Allow yourself at least half an hour to examine the “patient”. And get started - right according to the list (see diagram).

1. Open the hood yourself, inspect the lock and hinges to see if they are rusty or crooked, look under the insulation.

A dusty motor is good; it’s clear that there are no drips or fumes. Oily dirt and a burnt smell are a disaster. If the engine is washed clean, this is a reason to doubt: they are probably hiding traces of malfunctions.

We definitely start the car ourselves. We listen to the starter work, whether it grabs easily. During operation there should be no extraneous sounds - whistling, clicking, beating, grinding. There is smoke and knocking, the automatic transmission kicks when changing gears, the speeds on the manual are stuck in unclearly - we say goodbye to the seller.

2. Kick the wheels thoughtfully.

In addition to comparing tire markings, examine whether there are cuts and evenness of tread wear. There should be no cracks or chips on the discs, all bolts are in place.

Now for a little test drive: we start and brake. There should be no knocking or skidding, braking is confident, and when braking sharply at a speed of more than 20 on a winter road, the ABS system should crunch (and flash its paw on the panel).

3. Slowly walk around the car.

We look at the bumpers from below, open all the doors, trunk and gas tank flap. We carefully study the thresholds, look under the bottom (if possible, drive the car onto a pit or a lift). There are usually chips on the hood, and scuffs on the edges of the doors. Fresh paint is the result of renovation. If you are looking for an expensive car, use a paint thickness gauge; this device costs several thousand in online stores, but it will show you exactly where the paint is from the factory and where it came from the workshop.

4. The interior fabric will say a lot about the car.

A worn-out side of the driver's seat, a dented cushion - this means the car has clearly been through more than one hundred years.

Traces of replacing the steering wheel, cracks in the steering column are the consequences of repairs. Now we try the stove, air conditioning, music, mirror adjustments - and generally turn on all the buttons and knobs.

5. The car should roll, not rock.

Lightly press on top of each of the wings. If the suspension bounces back and freezes - good, continues to swing - the shock absorbers are dead.

The steering wheel should be straight if the straight wheels point straight ahead. While driving, the car should not pull to the side, the steering wheel should not shake, and it should not be pulled out of your hands when accelerating and braking. Find the speed bump. At speeds up to 20 km/h, it should be driven without impact, rattling or discomfort.

Five parts of the car that definitely need to be checked in person Photo: Dmitry POLUKHIN

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

Not everything can be seen with your own eyes; only computer diagnostics will allow you to look at the root. Sometimes the seller can even hide existing problems by removing the error so that the light on the panel does not light up. But diagnostics will show everything. For example, if there are no airbags after an accident, this can only be seen using a computer. And in some cases, a competent mechanic will be able to determine the actual mileage during diagnostics. In addition, the technician will tell you in detail about all the minor problems with the engine and gearbox, even if the seller tries to hide them.

You can go not only to an official dealer for diagnostics; on the Internet you will find the addresses of workshops where they will check your car at more reasonable prices - from 600 rubles to a couple of thousand. There are also diagnosticians who will come to you themselves, but this will cost more.

BDI!

So that they don't sell you an old taxi

A young car with low mileage but a shabby interior is a suspicious matter. It is possible that she worked in a corporate park or even a taxi. These cars cost hundreds in the first year of operation, and in a couple of years they will be drained of all juice.

Reliable mileage in modern times is much more than 10 thousand kilometers per year; in three years the car will cover at least 45 - 50 thousand km. If they tell you that the mileage of such a car is only twenty thousand, that the car was used only in the summer, and that my grandmother drove it to church, do not believe it. If the car's upholstery is worn to holes, and the mileage on the odometer is less than 100 thousand, look for another seller.