I have been searching for a nice blog which guides me on buying a used car in India, but couldn't find a complete article. Hence i thought of writing one based on my experience.
Step 1: The Search
There are umpteen websites which lists cars of various make and model. Below are the factors to consider while searching-
1. Try to find a car which has been driven not more than 40 - 50k Kms. Cars beyond this range tend to have many niggling issues or would be on the verge of a major part replacement.
2. Try to find a car which is a minimum of 3 years old and maximum of 5 years old. Recent ones tend to attract high price while the older ones are not worth it as you would end up spending more on its maintenance.
3. Make, variant & Color: Everyone has preferences but keep this as a variable. It is highly unlikely you would get your choice of colour or variant. On the other hand, this becomes your bargaining chip while negotiating.
4. Registration: Look out for cars which belong to your city, transferring across cities is a pain. Moreover avoid cities which are closer to beaches, hill stations or heavy rainfall. Parts tend to worn out faster in these cities.
Step 2: Shortlisted Cars
It is extremely important to shortlist at least 5 to 6 cars for test drive. Dont have any prejudices before test driving the car. Look for the following-
Exterior
1. Look for dents and scratches, variations in paint and variations in reflections. Any change in paint should warn you that a part might have been replaced.
2. Open the door and look for the factory fitted beading (this is generally of the body colour and underneath the rubber beading). If a door is replaced then you will not find the factory beading.
3. Tyres - check for tyre baldness including the stepney.
4. Lights - check if headlights, parking lights and indicators are working fine.
5. Wipers - check if the wipers are in good condition.
Interior
1. Seats - take time in checking each seat. Ensure they have some life left in them.
2. AC - turn ON the AC and check if they are just blowing air or really cooling.
3. Music System - check if all the speakers and tweeters are playing music.
4. Dashboard/ Instrument Cluster - check if the instrument cluster is in tact without any tampering on the corners.
TestDrive: Take the car for a drive and check the following
1. Steering- It must be smooth without any vibrations in the steering.
2. Clutch - It must be soft and gear change must be easy. Hard clutch or shuddering when you leave the clutch on first gear indicates that the clutch needs replacement. If you have trouble while shifting gears or if you are not able to shift to one particular gear, its a warning that the clutch might need replacement.
3. Suspension - Don't drive on smooth roads. Take the car on a road filled with potholes and try dipping into every pothole. If the shocks are good the car just hovers on them, else you will feel every inch of it.
4. Brakes - Speed drive and suddenly apply brakes, check if the car stops as intended. Also check if you are getting any noise when applied. A hissing or a harsh sound indicates a need for brake pad replacement.
5. Niggling Sounds - check for any niggling/ rattling sounds inside the car. More or less the car must remain silent on the inside other than the engine noise.
Step 3: Make your choice
Once you have selected the car based on the test drive check the following-
1. Documents - RC book/ smart card, Comprehensive insurance, Bank loans and service history.
2. Check with a service centre - take the car to any closest service centre and get it checked from a mechanic. All service centres oblige and would charge a nominal fee of Rs 500/- or less for a thorough all round checking.
3. Price Negotiation - try to bargain for all those negative points in the above mentioned checklist.
4. Maintenance - Know the maintenance costs of the car. While upgrading set your expectations right, you will no longer get the same range of bills. Brands like Maruti, Hyundai, TATA have a wide range of service centres and shouldn't be a problem. While Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Mercedes and Audi have limited service centres and most likely you are at their mercy.
Finally, while taking the delivery of the car, don't forget to ask for duplicate keys.
Step 1: The Search
There are umpteen websites which lists cars of various make and model. Below are the factors to consider while searching-
1. Try to find a car which has been driven not more than 40 - 50k Kms. Cars beyond this range tend to have many niggling issues or would be on the verge of a major part replacement.
2. Try to find a car which is a minimum of 3 years old and maximum of 5 years old. Recent ones tend to attract high price while the older ones are not worth it as you would end up spending more on its maintenance.
3. Make, variant & Color: Everyone has preferences but keep this as a variable. It is highly unlikely you would get your choice of colour or variant. On the other hand, this becomes your bargaining chip while negotiating.
4. Registration: Look out for cars which belong to your city, transferring across cities is a pain. Moreover avoid cities which are closer to beaches, hill stations or heavy rainfall. Parts tend to worn out faster in these cities.
Step 2: Shortlisted Cars
It is extremely important to shortlist at least 5 to 6 cars for test drive. Dont have any prejudices before test driving the car. Look for the following-
Exterior
1. Look for dents and scratches, variations in paint and variations in reflections. Any change in paint should warn you that a part might have been replaced.
2. Open the door and look for the factory fitted beading (this is generally of the body colour and underneath the rubber beading). If a door is replaced then you will not find the factory beading.
3. Tyres - check for tyre baldness including the stepney.
4. Lights - check if headlights, parking lights and indicators are working fine.
5. Wipers - check if the wipers are in good condition.
Interior
1. Seats - take time in checking each seat. Ensure they have some life left in them.
2. AC - turn ON the AC and check if they are just blowing air or really cooling.
3. Music System - check if all the speakers and tweeters are playing music.
4. Dashboard/ Instrument Cluster - check if the instrument cluster is in tact without any tampering on the corners.
TestDrive: Take the car for a drive and check the following
1. Steering- It must be smooth without any vibrations in the steering.
2. Clutch - It must be soft and gear change must be easy. Hard clutch or shuddering when you leave the clutch on first gear indicates that the clutch needs replacement. If you have trouble while shifting gears or if you are not able to shift to one particular gear, its a warning that the clutch might need replacement.
3. Suspension - Don't drive on smooth roads. Take the car on a road filled with potholes and try dipping into every pothole. If the shocks are good the car just hovers on them, else you will feel every inch of it.
4. Brakes - Speed drive and suddenly apply brakes, check if the car stops as intended. Also check if you are getting any noise when applied. A hissing or a harsh sound indicates a need for brake pad replacement.
5. Niggling Sounds - check for any niggling/ rattling sounds inside the car. More or less the car must remain silent on the inside other than the engine noise.
Step 3: Make your choice
Once you have selected the car based on the test drive check the following-
1. Documents - RC book/ smart card, Comprehensive insurance, Bank loans and service history.
2. Check with a service centre - take the car to any closest service centre and get it checked from a mechanic. All service centres oblige and would charge a nominal fee of Rs 500/- or less for a thorough all round checking.
3. Price Negotiation - try to bargain for all those negative points in the above mentioned checklist.
4. Maintenance - Know the maintenance costs of the car. While upgrading set your expectations right, you will no longer get the same range of bills. Brands like Maruti, Hyundai, TATA have a wide range of service centres and shouldn't be a problem. While Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Mercedes and Audi have limited service centres and most likely you are at their mercy.
Finally, while taking the delivery of the car, don't forget to ask for duplicate keys.
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