When buying a used car, there are a few things to keep in mind. Damage, mileage and contractual terms are often manipulated to the detriment of the buyer.
Top quality at a low price: this is what many sellers of used cars are advertising. But not all offers are serious: speedometers are manipulated, accidents are covered up and unfair clauses can be found in the small print of the purchase contract. According to the ADAC, the speedometer on one in three used cars in germany has been tampered with. Fewer kilometers increase the selling price of the car. According to ADAC data, the falsified mileage leads on average to an illegal increase in value of 3.000 euro per vehicle. All this with the aim to increase the selling price of the car. If you are looking for a used car, whether from a private seller or a dealer, you should know the most important tricks of the trade.
Tips for buying a car
Buying a car takes time and a reputable salesman does not rush the potential customer. Always go to the inspection in pairs – ideally with a specialist or an experienced layman. A checklist, such as those provided by car clubs and used car exchanges on the net, is a helpful aid to thinking about the car. there are also sample contracts for private car purchases.
- Inspect the car from the outside: the car should be inspected in the light in dry weather and be easily accessible from all sides. If the car is parked in a hall, it must be well lit. Wet vehicles make it difficult to see repaired parts and paint damage. Rust lurks in hidden corners like wheel wells, trunks and under carpets. Musty smell in the interior indicates moisture in the car. If possible, also look under the car. Oil stains on the floor are an alarm signal.
- Accident damage: uneven gaps between individual components are suspicious: if, for example, the gaps between the hood and the fenders are of different widths on both sides, the body has probably warped. Well-repaired paint damage is difficult to see with the naked eye. A weak magnet will cover up filled areas, because it will not adhere there.
- Retrieve dataAfter purchase, you can request information about your car via the insurance industry’s information system. In the case of total damage, the data is stored for a long time; in the case of minor damage, it is usually deleted after a short period of time, for example after a repair.
- Read out control unitsmodern vehicles contain many small computers. speedometer tricksters usually only manipulate the display in the cockpit. With the help of an app and an OBD2 adapter, even non-professionals can read out the data from the control units.
- Measuring paint thicknessIf the vehicle has been involved in an accident, it is usually repainted. With the help of a paint thickness gauge, you can identify the affected areas yourself. The devices are available from approx. 30 euro.
- Look under the hood: a too clean, freshly cleaned engine should make you suspicious. The seller may have removed traces and concealed leaks by washing the engine. Hoses and seals should be dry and not brittle. Are there any traces of spilled liquids? If the coolant in the expansion tank is cloudy, this may indicate a defective cylinder head gasket. Look for stickers or tags that show mileage and dates of fluid changes, and compare the information to the speedometer reading.
- Check the papers: It is important to have a service booklet in which the vehicle maintenance is documented as completely as possible. Additional confidence can be gained from repair certificates and inspection reports from the main inspection. When does the car have to be inspected again? The mileage can also be checked with the help of the entries in the documents – more reliably than with the speedometer reading, because it can be easily manipulated. Many previous owners may be an indication that the car was frequently resold due to its susceptibility to breakdowns.
- Check functions and interior: test the most important electrical functions such as lighting, air conditioning, electric outside mirrors, seat heating and the radio. The interior should look clean and well maintained. A badly worn steering wheel, worn seats and worn pedal rubbers indicate very high mileage.
- Test drive the car: the engine should be cold and start immediately. When the ignition is switched on, the indicator lights in the cockpit (ABS, ESP, airbags) must light up and then go out when the engine is started. Some defects, such as a warped track, worn steering or defective shock absorbers, only become noticeable at high speeds: the car pulls to one side or corners badly. Therefore, also drive outside a town and shift through all gears up and back again.
A sticky gearshift, strong vibrations and jerking movements indicate drive problems. Even on bad roads, the car should sit well on the road and not float, rattle or crack.
- Recognize reputable sellers: is the seller’s environment right? A yard with hobbyist cars is not good advertising. Stand the car in a garage? Is the allegedly private seller also the owner according to the vehicle documents?? A trustworthy seller answers all questions in a comprehensible way, talks openly about defects and damage to a car. Customers may inspect the used vehicle at their leisure and test drive it extensively. If the offer is very favorable compared to similar cars, special caution is advised.
- Warranty: the statutory warranty states that a commercial seller is liable for product defects for two years. For used cars, the warranty may be shortened to one year, but not completely excluded. If the dealer gives an additional warranty, he can determine the scope himself. Read the terms of the warranty carefully. A private seller may completely exclude liability for the car in the sales contract. However, he may not fraudulently conceal defects that he knows about. Include important promises made by the seller in the sales contract.
- Ask experts: automobile clubs, TuV, dekra and motor vehicle experts offer used car checks. Alternative: have a new main inspection done. Your own trusted workshop can also inspect the car.
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