Used cars: this is what you need to check if you want to buy one

When you are about to buy a used vehicle, there are several actions that must be carried out as a matter of obligation. These are things that will not only help confirm that everything is in order with the car, but also provide complete peace of mind for the buyer and prevent you from encountering surprises once the sale has been completed, both mechanically and legally.

The DGT has therefore wanted to remind you of several things that must be taken into account when buying that used vehicle you want to drive. Before closing the purchase process, you should carry out these checks to avoid those surprises, which can be quite unpleasant.

Carry out a general inspection of the vehicle

It is important to establish that the general condition of the vehicle matches what has been described to you, and that everything is as expected. To learn the legal status of the car, you should request a detailed vehicle report, something that can be done through the DGT website.

This report will show the vehicle’s data, both judicial and administrative. You can check whether its MOT (ITV) is valid, whether all the paperwork is in order, and even what repairs it has undergone, and whether the digital service book used by many workshops has been kept up to date.

To check that everything is correct from a mechanical standpoint, it is advisable to have a trusted mechanic check several important aspects. You can do this yourself too, but it is always advisable for a professional to carry out the inspection, as they will be better able to determine the overall condition of the vehicle.

Among the things to check are the following:

Bodywork inspection, to confirm that it is not damaged, that the paint is intact, and that there has been no undeclared collision, whether it is rusted or anything else that has not been disclosed. The presence of these things is a sign that the car may have been in an accident.

You should also check the condition of the engine and brake fluids and the condition of the timing belt, to know what state all of these are in.

Tyres are very important, and you should check whether they are in perfect condition or need replacing. The suspension must also work properly, and you can move the car from side to side to check that it functions correctly. It should not make any abnormal noise and should return the car to its position after that sudden movement.

Make sure that the ignition key works properly, and test the rest of the buttons and levers to confirm that everything works. The pedals should return to their original position when released, without noises or strange movement. Driving the car for a few kilometres can also give some clues about how it works and reveal any abnormality during operation.

Check that it can be transferred and is free of encumbrances

You must request a DGT report showing the vehicle’s data, any encumbrances on it, whether it has been deregistered, or anything else that could affect the change of ownership. Once this is done, the vehicle sale can go ahead and the ownership can be transferred.

Sign the sales contract

This contract should be as complete as possible. It must clearly state the buyer’s and seller’s details, a description of the vehicle, the sale price, and the date and time of signing the sales contract.

Pay the transfer tax and change the ownership

Then you must pay the corresponding fees and, once everything is in order, the change of ownership of the vehicle can be carried out.