What is a Pre-Purchase Inspection & Why is it important?
Pre-Purchase Inspection means thoroughly inspecting the exterior body and functioning of all components of the car you are planning to buy for flaws or drawbacks, & judging if or not it’s a good buy. It can be done yourself, by a mechanic or a pre-purchase inspection service.
A Pre-Purchase Inspection is the most important step of buying a pre-owned car, since it helps you ascertain whether the car you are planning to buy, works properly. Honestly, you don’t later want to be spending loads of money on maintenance and repairs, on a recently bought car.
Pre-Purchase Inspection helps you make a well informed decision and removes any uncertainty regarding the condition of the car.
The Checklist That Answers All
1) Inspect the Car in for Scratches or Paint Jobs
Inspect the car in broad daylight to make sure that each and every inch of the exterior is readily visible to you. Any discrepancies in the paint coat suggest that the car has had scuffs and scratches repainted, but make sure to check if it was involved in any major accidents and has had certain parts replaced & any part replacements are shown on the Registration Certificate.
2) Check Working of Electronics Thoroughly
Let’s start with the easier bits, the electrical system for instance. Make sure that the electrical equipment responds to every command. The indicators, external fold-able mirrors, music system, power windows etc. should work properly. It tends to get really hot in our subcontinent during summers, so you want to make sure that the air conditioner works to your satisfaction on a sultry summer day.
3) Check For Leakages & Battery Problems
Check around the battery terminal to make sure there’s no wear and tear. After you have taken a thorough test drive, park the car & wait for upto half an hour to check for any leakages.
4) Listen for any Noise During the Test Drive
During the initial part of the test drive, switch off the music system, open the windows & listen for any sound of noise coming from the car. It might suggest trouble with suspension or any other component.
5) Check the Engine for any Trouble
The engine shouldn’t make any knocking sound, which indicates that there is a problem with the car. Neither should it misfire, which you can pick-up by the loss of acceleration when pressing the peddle or vibrations of the dashboard. If there is any kind of smoke emitting out of the back end of the car, you might want to get a professional opinion on the engine.
6) Test the Brakes
Don’t be shy to brake aggressively & test out the brakes. Your life depends on them brakes & you want to make sure that they are in perfect working condition.
7) Condition of Tyres
Make sure that the tyres are in a good condition with deep enough threads. In case that rubber is going bald, you can in the very least bargain down the car price.
8) Check the Odometer Reading carefully.
Check the odometer reading of the car carefully. Odometer tampering is a highly common practice, and if the readings don’t correspond to the car’s condition, you might want to give the regular car service center a phone call for details.
9) Car’s Maintenance History
Ask the owner for details of any repair work done on the vehicle and the car’s service book, which will give you a detailed insight into the car’s maintenance history.
10) Legal Documents
For a complete legal transaction of the car to your name, make sure the following documents are transferred to your name or are received by you