Tips to avoid being cheated when buying a used vehicle

The used vehicle market continues to gain ground in Spain. A growing number of people are looking for a second-hand car known as “nearly new”, which offers features similar to those of a car fresh off the dealership lot, except with a few kilometres on the clock and a significant drop in price. These used vehicles are an attractive solution value for money for those looking for their first car or simply wanting to change vehicles.

In Spain, sales of used vehicles grew by 3.3% during the first quarter of 2023, selling a total of 467,282 units, which shows a clear preference among buyers over new vehicles.

And so, if you are thinking of getting a used vehicle, you must keep several factors in mind so as not to make a mistake. Many companies offer an incredible service in the reconditioning of their vehicles, but you never know what lies under the bonnet or the technical problems the car has suffered, which could mean a bigger outlay for our wallets in the future.

Aspects to consider

• Compare; it is a very important step when choosing a vehicle. It is essential to compare the different websites to see which offers the best deal or best price. It is also important to compare the features of the car we want to buy with others in the same range to see which one best suits our needs. TopVentasCoches has an online comparison tool available to any consumer.
• Keep up with the market; brands strive to offer the best version of their models in terms of technology, performance and comfort. That is why, when a model receives an update, the previous model suffers a slight price drop, so we need to keep up with the news and make sure we do not make the mistake of overpaying. We must also consider the additional costs that buying a vehicle may involve, such as whether or not we have a charging point at home in the case of an electric car, insurance, consumption and road tax.
• Quality certificate; many manufacturers and dealerships offer quality certificates on their vehicles, which consist of thorough inspections carried out by specialists, giving the customer greater confidence in their purchase. If the vehicle you want to buy does not come with one, you can always take it to a workshop for a pre-purchase inspection, which costs around 150€, but guarantees you a car in good condition.
• Documentation; make sure you check all the car’s documents, including the title of ownership, tax documentation and any other relevant records. Verify that all the information matches and is up to date.

• Check the bodywork; the bodywork of a vehicle often shows some deformation caused either by an impact or by causes unknown to us. Look closely at the panel gaps, which should be symmetrical, and they are a good indicator of whether the car has had any bodywork or whole-panel replacements.
• Watch the odometer; at first glance it is not easy to tell whether an odometer has been tampered with, but there are several signs of wear that may indicate the car has more kilometres than it shows, such as wear on the pedals, the seats or the gear lever. There are also available on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems that connect to all the car’s control units through an OBD-II port located below the steering wheel dashboard and display a report on an external computer, but let’s leave that to the more experienced.
• Visual mechanical check; we know that it is difficult to spot technical faults in the vehicle’s structure with the naked eye, but there are some details we can observe that can save us a headache in the future. The shock absorbers, the brake discs and pads, the timing belt, the wheels or the paintwork are details that may be worn and can save us money in the future and, above all, open the bonnet: small leaks or wear that could lead to costly breakdowns can be seen at a glance, or you can check the condition of the oil.

• Pay attention to the seller: it is important to observe how the seller behaves when faced with certain situations. A trustworthy seller should have no problem letting you review the technical inspections the car has undergone, such as the MOT, maintenance or workshop repairs. It is important to ask about the general condition of the vehicle, defects not mentioned in the advert, any accidents it may have had, the number of previous owners, and so on. As we have mentioned before, you can always suggest having the car subjected to a pre-purchase inspection.

The most sought-after nearly new car

In the used vehicle market, some models are more in demand than others because of their value for money. The Toyota Land Cruiser has displaced a true “classic” such as the Volkswagen Golf from first place in the latest data published for January to May 2023.

Even so, the VW Golf is the car with the highest cumulative sales, followed by other popular models such as the Renault Mégane, Seat Ibiza, Ford Focus and Seat León. SUVs are the most sought-after body style, with seven of the ten most searched-for premium-brand models online and four of them SUVs.