How to check the car correctly before buying. How to check a car for cleanliness before buying - all methods

Buying a car for secondary market associated with some risk: the car may be pledged or restored after an accident. In this article I will tell you how not to buy a pig in a poke and check the vehicle for legal purity and an accident before the execution of the sales contract. Moreover, this can be done both for free and quickly, but for a small fee.

We only need access to the Internet and the state. car number (you can get it from the seller by phone or look at the photos of the car). If you want to feel like a super agent and know everything in advance, then you need to get another name and date of birth of a potential seller.

1. Checking the car for an accident in the state. number

In fact, the traffic police took care of motorists for a long time and developed a convenient service for checking cars https: //gibd.d.rf/check/auto/. Here you can get complete and reliable information about registration actions, traffic accidents, prohibitions and restrictions related to the car for free.

The only problem is that you need a VIN to run the check. Therefore, if you choose a car remotely, for example through Avito, or the seller does not have documents with a VIN in the hands of the seller, the traffic police website will be useless. But there is one "trick" that will help us a lot - knowing the state number of the car, we can easily get the VIN code!

The traffic police will tell us a lot of interesting things. For example, registration history:

What you can learn from this example. Firstly, the car has been traveling around Russia since 2003. Secondly, she changed many owners. Frequent "re-registration" after short periods of time may indicate that there is a "jamb" in the car, identifying which, each subsequent owner tries to get rid of the car as soon as possible. This, at least, should alert, but rather serve as a reason to leave this option "on the shelf".

In our example, the car is not on the wanted list, but restrictions are imposed on it - a ban registration actions... Until this record disappears, you don't even need to talk to the seller about buying this car. The seller has a debt recognized by the court and being executed by the bailiffs. It can be a mortgage debt, and maybe a car loan.

Remember, at the beginning of this article, I talked about super agents? I hope you already know the name of the seller ...

3. Punching the seller into debt

Everything is simple, go to the website of the Federal Bailiff Service http://fssprus.ru and drive the seller's data into the form:

We press the button "Find" and enjoy our power as a result:

In the example, issuance by full name without date of birth. The more data, the more accurate the result. What is worth paying attention to here. First, look for availability orders of execution in relation to the seller - if there are many of them, then restrictions may be imposed on the car. It will be difficult to register such a car with the traffic police. Secondly, pay attention to the number of traffic fines.

4. Checking the car for fines

If you have the number of the registration certificate and the state number of the car, you can find out all the ins and outs of the fines of its owner using the resource https://gibd.d.rf/check/fines/

Perhaps our seller is a fan of "driving", and hence the assumption about how the car was used. In addition, with a large number of unpaid fines (depending on the traffic police department and the subject of the Russian Federation), a problem may arise when the car is removed from the register.

5. See if the car is pledged

In order to check whether the car is in pledge, you need to open the website of the register of pledges of the Federal Notary Chamber: https://www.reestr-zalogov.ru/search/index

On this site we will be interested in the item "Find in the register". Next, select the search tab "According to information about the subject of pledge", enter the VIN vehicle in the input field and click the "Find" button. If the search returns an empty result, then everything is fine and the car is not pledged.

Comprehensive verification through a paid service

Get detailed information about the history of ownership and operation of a particular car, you can also through the paid service "Autocode".

This official service can provide a complete and accurate report on any car operating on the territory of the Russian Federation, by VIN, chassis number or state registration plate. In addition to information from the traffic police bases, you can find out there:

  • Number of owners
  • Mileage
  • Checking the bases for theft and accidents
  • Use as a taxi
  • Customs history


Currently, the cost of preparing a report in this service is 349 rubles.

We have told you about all the ways to punch a car. We hope that you will only come across legally clean cars and honest sellers.

Before buying a used car, you should check the following:

External beauty and shine do not mean anything yet

  • availability of the original technical passport;
  • was not it;
  • whether the car has been repainted;
  • lack of modifications (tuning) of the electrical, fuel, chassis, steering and brake systems.

If, during the interview and examination, any doubts arise on at least one of these questions, then you should decisively proceed to next carwithout being tempted by a suitable price, since car market oversaturated with suggestions and there will definitely be another desired option. After receiving satisfactory answers to the listed questions, you can proceed to a detailed inspection of the car.

A detailed inspection is best done with a faithful companion who knows well how to check the car before buying, so as not to miss it during the inspection important points... You should also arm yourself with a notebook to write down all the shortcomings noticed. They will be needed later to conduct an objective assessment of the condition of the car and determine its real market value.

They will also help you to reasonably bring down the inflated requests of the seller and reduce the price. It is necessary to adhere to the rule of conducting an inspection on a sunny day in bright light, avoiding proposals for inspections inside boxes, garages, salons.

How to check a car before buying

We offer next order inspection and diagnostics of the condition of the machine before entering into a purchase and sale transaction.

Video: How to check documents before buying a car

What to check when buying a used car?

Checking documents before buying a car is an important legal check "for cleanliness", confirming the legitimacy of the operation of the car. According to the original PTS, we compare the vehicle data recorded in it with the actual numbers on the power unit and chassis. Marking and numbers must match completely. If there are traces of abrasions and illegibility of symbols, then you should stop the inspection and move on to the next car, since you should not buy a "pig in a poke". Read how to check a car for registration ban and restrictions. How to check a car for a loan or collateral.

In the presence of state numbers you need to check whether the car is on the wanted list or in arrest, whether it was involved in an accident. These data can be found on the website of the bailiffs and the official website of the traffic police. Besides PTS car must have a registration certificate and an insurance policy. Record the odometer reading. A large mileage with a short calendar life indicates its intensive use, perhaps it was often "taxed" on it, and it can be quite "killed".

We check the technical condition of the car

1. Inspection of the hood

With a visual inspection of the hood, a check of the technical condition of the car begins before purchasing . Here you should open and close the hood several times, checking the reliability of the lock and at the same time examining it from the inside for violations of the paintwork and rust. In the passenger compartment, check the action of the lever that opens the hood lock.

2. The interior of the engine compartment

  • Visually see the condition of all components, paying attention to the presence of leaks of oil, fuel, special fluids. On a dirty engine, they are clearly noticeable; on a clean engine, paper should be drawn over all sealing places after running it on high revs... The places of the drips need to be examined more closely to find the cause. Write this flaw in a notebook.
  • Checking the level and consistency engine oil and special liquids. They should remain homogeneous without impurities and suspensions.
  • We do an inspection of pipelines and wiring. The absence of cracks, traces of breakdown, sharp bends is a sign of serviceability. If there are new parts, you need to find out the reason for replacing the old ones.
  • We start the engine, paying attention to throttle response, lack of extraneous sounds at work.
  • We inspect the engine radiators and air conditioners for the health of the honeycomb and the absence of foreign objects. There should be no deformation of the edges. We clarify the reasons for the dents, if any.
  • Look at the tightening condition of the struts. Mudguards and cups should not be loose.

3. Diagnostics of the car body before buying

Video: How to choose the right used car

From all sides we check the body from the outside, evaluating the uniformity and uniformity of the paintwork. The presence of areas where the tone has differences in shades or gloss indicates a second painting, which may occur due to repairs after an accident or significant corrosion. To identify paint and putty of individual body parts should be used. If there is no thickness gauge, then you can use a regular magnet wrapped in a cloth. In places where there is a thick layer of putty, the attraction will be less. Revealing the fact that the seller is cheating or hiding defects should alert the buyer and force him to abandon the purchase. If the body of a used car looks perfectly smooth, without roughness, small chips, scratches, then this should alert. maybe technical condition the car is unimportant, it was in an accident and was completely repainted.

In any case, this is a signal that in the future you can find some more unwanted hidden defects. There is nothing worse than the unknown, so another car with more openness and operation should be preferred. If the seller himself does not have information about the condition and history of the car, then there is still no reason to buy a car from such an owner.

  • We write down all damage to the paintwork in a notebook, as they are subject to processing and painting to prevent further corrosion.
  • We pay attention to the profile of the car in front and behind with tightly closed doors. Doors should not protrude or be strongly recessed, which may be the result of an accident, replacement or repair after deformation. Door gaps, gaps between the bonnet, luggage door and body are kept equally the same along the entire perimeter. If obvious deviations are noticed, then this indicates a changed geometry of the body, which is the result of a strong impact in an accident. Such a car has poor handling, so it is better to refuse to purchase.
  • We check the tailgate in the same way.
  • Opening the doors, we look at the thresholds, rubber bands, factory welds. If a post-emergency refurbishment was done, the seam will differ in shape or size from the factory one. Painting in the area of \u200b\u200bthe arch immediately reveals the fact of repainting the car, since there are traces of the factory paint layer there. The paint border is usually hidden under the rubber seal and can be found by bending the seal back. Check for additional washers in the door hinges, which indicate an attempt to compensate for door slack resulting from door replacement.
  • We conduct a separate inspection of each door, checking the operation of buttons, locks, handles, window regulators, and adjusting mirrors. Pay attention to the reliable fastening of the panels, the absence of gaps. If the borders of the panels have a gap, this indicates that it has been dismantled and the plastic clips are damaged.
  • When checking the operation of locks, it is useful to take a closer look at its counterpart. If the door or lock was changed, then inevitably there will remain traces of the regulation of the position of the lock. You should find out the reasons for these actions.
  • Opening and closing each door several times, check the ease and completeness of the catch without jamming. If the door opens hard or closes with a strong bang, then the cause should be found out. It can be the development or deformation of the seat, the repair of which will require significant costs.
  • When inspecting the roof, you should pay attention to possible traces of its replacement, expressed in the difference in the tone of the paintwork, violations of its geometry, damage to the weirs.
  • We check how the flap and the gas tank cover are opened and closed.

4. Checking lighting equipment

  • We carry out external diagnostics of the front and rear optics. The glass surface must be free from chips, cracks, scratches. The headlight mounting is made rigid without bouncing. Glasses with a large number of scratches must be replaced as soon as possible, since they strongly "plant" the brightness of the device. Depending on the brand of the car, replacing glass can result in a round sum.
  • Interior lighting and instrument lighting are checked when the ignition is turned on. The brightness control of the backlight should be smooth and continuous.

5. Inspection of the condition of the body kit

  • We alternately inspect both bumpers for the reliability of the suspension, the presence of chips, cracks, paintwork violations, traces of repair. The fit of the bumper should be flat and tight without large gaps. Fog lights and parktronic emitters must be securely fastened.
  • Next, we inspect the condition of the mudguards for their integrity.
  • You should check how the sill strips, moldings and other exterior elements are fixed.

6. Expertise of wheels

  • Pay attention to dents and ellipsoidal deformations in discs. If they are, then for sure, they influenced the operation and condition of the suspension units, which can only be revealed during a control trip to the landfill.
  • We check the air pressure in the tires, which must match on all or in pairs on the front and rear wheels... There are such "specialists" who can inflate tires under different pressures to compensate for the spontaneous drift of the car due to the unrecoverable deformation of the chassis after an accident.
  • We measure the wear of the tire tread using the available indicators or a ruler. It is rare that a used car has new tires. Therefore, it is important that the tires can move away until the moment when they are changed for the season. Uneven tire wear indicates that the geometry of the body is possibly broken, and it needs to be checked in a workshop at the stand.

7. Checking the glazing

  • We inspect the glass; there should be no cracks, chips, dense mesh on them small scratches... Frontal and rear glass should not have darkening films.
  • The serviceability of glass heaters can be checked by hand by turning on the heating and feeling the glass after a while.
  • The serviceability of the washers and wipers is carried out simultaneously, by turning them on in different modes. In this case, you should pay attention to what mark the wiper brush leaves behind. If there are large gaps, it should be concluded that it is necessary to replace the rubber bands.
  • If the headlights are equipped with wipers and a washer, check their operation.
  • Pay particular attention to window seals. If they are new or there are traces of sealant, then the glass on the door has been changed. We need to find out the reason.

8. The procedure for inspecting the passenger compartment to check the car before purchase

  • The thresholds in the doorway of the passenger compartment should not be rotten. By tapping with a metal object (mount) on the thresholds and the bottom, we determine the degree of their decay. If the sound is ringing, then the metal is in good condition.
  • The seats should be inspected by removing the covers. In this case, the serviceability of the backrest tilt and longitudinal position of the chair is checked. There should be no backlash in the back position. The seats should move freely on the slide and be securely fixed in the chosen position. The serviceability of the seat heating system is checked.
  • We check the rear shelf for integrity, the absence of unnecessary holes and the reliability of the fastening.
  • Inspection of the ceiling consists in checking the condition of the casing, the serviceability of the upper hinges or handles, the operability of the general lighting, fastening and fixing the position of the sun visors. The top hatch should open smoothly. It should be free from damage, cracks, chips. Seal without deformation and tears.
  • We check the reliability of the fastening dashboard... She should be sitting dead. We try how the glove compartment door opens and closes with a latch and a lock.
  • We test all seat belts. We check for damage, the condition of the locks, lightness and length when pulling out, stopping with a sharp jerk.

Video: What you need to know when buying a used car?

9. Inspection and inspection of the luggage compartment

  • We inspect the door in the same way as we examined other doors and the hood.
  • The spare wheel area should be carefully inspected for corrosion, welding or paint by folding back the luggage compartment cover.
  • It is necessary to check the serviceability of the trunk lighting.
  • Opening and closing the tailgate several times, check the clarity and reliability of the lock and internal drive operation.

10. Checking the dashboard.

  • We check how the devices and indicators on the dashboard work according to their readings. The handles of the deflectors should move without jamming and sinking, confidently fixed in any position. The panels must be flat and free from defects.
  • After warming up, the cigarette lighter must clearly extend from the pressed position.
  • With the help of a friend, you need to check the correct operation of all optical instruments: alarm, switching headlights from low to high beam, direction indicators, sidelights, reverse, fog lights.
  • The functioning of the central lock is checked by the clarity of the operation of the latches and the blinking of devices.
  • When turning the steering wheel, the anti-theft blocker steering wheel.
  • The seat belt warning lamp should be on when the doors are closed.
  • Start the engine and check the operation of other instruments - tachometer, oil temperature and pressure indicators, etc. in accordance with the vehicle operating manual.

11. Checking heating and air conditioning

  • With the engine running, turn on the stove to the maximum mode. After a while, warm air should come from all air ducts. There should be no burning and fuel smell;
  • Switch on and check the air conditioner in different modes. He should not make extraneous sounds during operation. A cold air stream should appear.

12. Correctly determine the mileage of the car

  • On average, an ordinary private car drives 10-20 thousand kilometers a year. Therefore, in 5 years, approximately 100,000 kilometers of run comes out. For this run on brake discs 2-3 mm remains from the linings. If you see new pads, then the mileage is most likely more than 100 thousand.
  • The fabric upholstery of the seats is erased after approximately 90-130 thousand kilometers, leather after 200,000. The armrest and the lateral support of the seats are especially strongly erased.

Buying a car in the secondary market involves some risk: the car can be pledged or restored after an accident. In this article, I will tell you how not to buy a pig in a poke and check the vehicle for legal cleanliness and accidents before signing a purchase agreement. Moreover, this can be done both for free and quickly, but for a small fee.

We only need access to the Internet and the state. car number (you can get it from the seller by phone or look at the photos of the car). If you want to feel like a super agent and know everything in advance, then you need to get another name and date of birth of a potential seller.

1. Checking the car for an accident in the state. number

In fact, the traffic police took care of motorists for a long time and developed a convenient service for checking cars https: //gibd.d.rf/check/auto/. Here you can get complete and reliable information about registration actions, traffic accidents, prohibitions and restrictions related to the car for free.

The only problem is that you need a VIN to run the check. Therefore, if you choose a car remotely, for example through Avito, or the seller does not have documents with a VIN in the hands of the seller, the traffic police website will be useless. But there is one "trick" that will help us a lot - knowing the state number of the car, we can easily get the VIN code!

The traffic police will tell us a lot of interesting things. For example, registration history:

What you can learn from this example. Firstly, the car has been traveling around Russia since 2003. Secondly, she changed many owners. Frequent "re-registration" after short periods of time may indicate that there is a "jamb" in the car, identifying which, each subsequent owner tries to get rid of the car as soon as possible. This, at least, should alert, but rather serve as a reason to leave this option "on the shelf".

In our example, the car is not on the wanted list, but restrictions are imposed on it - the prohibition of registration actions. Until this record disappears, you don't even need to talk to the seller about buying this car. The seller has a debt recognized by the court and being executed by the bailiffs. It can be a mortgage debt, and maybe a car loan.

Remember, at the beginning of this article, I talked about super agents? I hope you already know the name of the seller ...

3. Punching the seller into debt

Everything is simple, go to the website of the Federal Bailiff Service http://fssprus.ru and drive the seller's data into the form:

We press the button "Find" and enjoy our power as a result:

In the example, issuance by full name without date of birth. The more data, the more accurate the result. What is worth paying attention to here. Firstly, look at the existence of writs of execution against the seller - if there are a lot of them, then restrictions may be imposed on the car. It will be difficult to register such a car with the traffic police. Secondly, pay attention to the number of traffic fines.

4. Checking the car for fines

If you have the number of the registration certificate and the state number of the car, you can find out all the ins and outs of the fines of its owner using the resource https://gibd.d.rf/check/fines/

Perhaps our seller is a fan of "driving", and hence the assumption about how the car was used. In addition, with a large number of unpaid fines (depending on the traffic police department and the subject of the Russian Federation), a problem may arise when the car is removed from the register.

5. See if the car is pledged

In order to check whether the car is in pledge, you need to open the website of the register of pledges of the Federal Notary Chamber: https://www.reestr-zalogov.ru/search/index

On this site we will be interested in the item "Find in the register". Next, select the search tab "For information about the subject of pledge", enter the VIN of the vehicle in the input field and press the button "Find". If the search returns an empty result, then everything is fine and the car is not pledged.

Comprehensive verification through a paid service

You can also get detailed information about the history of ownership and operation of a particular car through the paid service "Autocode".

This official service can provide a complete and accurate report on any car operating on the territory of the Russian Federation, by VIN, chassis number or state registration plate. In addition to information from the traffic police bases, you can find out there:

  • Number of owners
  • Mileage
  • Checking the bases for theft and accidents
  • Use as a taxi
  • Customs history


Currently, the cost of preparing a report in this service is 349 rubles.

We told you about all the ways to punch a car. We hope you only come across legally clean cars and honest sellers.

The used car market in our country has grown several times in recent years. In contrast, used car sales are the engine of growth.

Despite the many loan programs that banks offer for, the demand for used cars is several times greater than for new cars. Unfortunately, when buying a used car, a large number of people face the sellers' dishonesty and dishonesty, resulting in disappointment, unnecessary spending on unforeseen repairs, etc.

It would seem that these days, when the 21st century is in the yard, most people should know how to buy a used car in order not to buy a very bad car, with a bad past.

But in fact, in 80 percent of cases, people when buying a used car are guided only by the price and occasionally appearance, which leads to the purchase of an unreliable car. What needs to be done to

Remember that if you do not understand the technical part of the car, then before buying a used vehicle you need to diagnose it with the help of an auto mechanic. There are two options: you, together with the buyer, go to a specialized auto repair shop for diagnostics, or you come to a meeting with the buyer together with a car mechanic who will help you to make an initial diagnosis of the condition of the car on the spot. Many things that an auto mechanic will check will be clear to you, but some, on the contrary, may confuse you. In order for you to understand how important diagnostics are before buying a used car and what exactly a specialist from a car service should check, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with 10 tips for checking before buying a used one.

1) Body, dents, rust


Almost every used car has some drawbacks that have appeared during operation. By these shortcomings, you can determine how the seller treated his own.

But remember that many flaws can be deliberately hidden from your eyes. If you are not a specialist in car painting, it will be difficult for you to determine whether the car has been in an accident, whether there is hidden damage and rust on the body.

A car mechanic will help you find out the condition of the car body, determining the discrepancy between the factory gaps of the body elements, the presence of dents, chips and rust spots or the presence of cheap body repair, which deliberately hides the flaws of the car.

Remember that if the coating of some body element is noticeably different from the factory coating, then this indicates low-quality cheap car repair, which also indicates the owner's attitude towards his vehicle during operation. This should alert you.

The most important thing is to check for rust when inspecting the car body. If, when examining the body, bulges or swellings are found on the body elements, then this may mean either poor quality painting and body work or the presence of rust under the body paint.

When inspecting a car body, you need to pay attention to inspecting the bottom and side members of the car, where rust affects the metal elements of the car in the first place.

Also, if a used car is of advanced age, but looks too perfect, it should alert you. Perhaps the car has recently been painted, which will prevent the detection of rust on the body.

2) Suspension, used car tires


In addition to the car body, the suspension and rubber of the vehicle must be checked first. Traditionally, auto mechanics check the suspension on a lift by tapping structural elements undercarriage to determine suspension wear.

If the mechanic does not have the opportunity to check the chassis in a car service, they traditionally resort to a test of the suspension operation by pressing on the body above each wheel of the vehicle. If, when pressing on the body, the shock absorber and the spring of the car return the body to its previous position in a short time, this indicates that the rack is working.

If there are any problems with this, then it may not be working properly. But the best way to check the chassis of the vehicle is to drive a car, without turning on the music, which can interfere with you, hear extraneous knocks of a defective suspension.

Including, you should not neglect the inspection of the condition of the tires of the car. It is necessary to make sure that all wheels keep the air pressure evenly and if they have any damage and make sure that all tires wear evenly.

Uneven wear may indicate problems with undercarriage vehicle and on the wrong wheel alignment. It is also worth inspecting the condition of the spare wheel.

3) Used car headlights


The inspection consists in checking the tightness of the front and rear lights vehicle, checking the integrity of reflectors or lenses. Also pay attention to the transparency of the headlights. If the car is young enough, but the headlights are not transparent, then most likely the headlights have been replaced or the car has high mileage.

When examining the headlights, the auto mechanic pays attention to the gaps between the headlights, the hood and the wings of the vehicle. If the gaps are not uniform, then there is a high probability that the car has undergone a body repair.

Remember that leaking headlights can lead to electrical problems and short circuits. When inspecting, turn on the dimensions and low beam, not forgetting to also check the high beam. If there is flickering, flashing of light elements, then this also indicates a problem with the electrician.

Don't forget to check brake lights, turn signals, fog lights and interior lights. If some elements do not work properly, then most likely the owner of the car did not follow her.

4) Instrument panel and display


The speedometer, tachometer, odometer, gas tank gauge, engine temperature and all other indicators on the instrument panel should be working. The panel should not light up, nor any extraneous warning yellow and red icons. If the speedometer does not work, then the mileage of the car may not be reliable, which can then lead to costly engine or transmission repairs.

Pay attention to the mileage of the vehicle. Compare the specified car condition total mileage... In case of discrepancy, there is only one conclusion - the mileage is deliberately twisted.

What should you pay attention to first of all? High mileage of the car gives wheel and a gear shift knob that has scuffs. You should also pay attention to the presence of various paint chips on the bonnet and front bumper. With a low mileage on the odometer, but with the above signs, most likely the mileage was twisted by at least 50,000 km.

Including pay attention to windshieldwhich at high mileage has a lot of minor damage from sand and small stones on the road. But be careful. Often sellers of used cars put worn-out parts in order, which makes it difficult to determine whether the mileage indicator corresponds to the state of the car.

5) Air conditioning and car stove


If the vehicle being inspected has an air conditioner, then checking it is mandatory, since in the event of a breakdown of this equipment, repairs can be very expensive. If the car is inspected in winter period, then it is advisable to ask the seller to drive to a warm heated room (for example, a car service, a covered parking in a shopping center, a car wash or a garage), since the air conditioner will not turn on in the cold.

After turning on the air conditioner, check how cold air comes from all air ducts. Check all blowing speed modes. Also notice how loud the cooling is. Excessively noisy operation of the cooling equipment may indicate a problem with the air conditioner.

The heating of the car is also checked to identify possible malfunctions stoves. Do not forget to check under the front car mats for smudges, etc., which may indicate antifreeze leakage from the passenger compartment heater. Also, if antifreeze leaks in dry weather, the glass fogs up in the car.

6) Radiator and pipes


Inspection of the radiator of a used car is a very important step before buying. First of all, they examine possible smudges of antifreeze, which will reveal a problematic radiator. You also need to pay attention to the coolant level and its color.

If the fluid contains signs of rust and the level of antifreeze is below the established minimum, this indicates that the owner of the car did not treat it properly, which should alert you.

Do not forget about the pipes, which must also be inspected for tightness.

7) Oil in engines


Before checking the oil in the engine, traditionally the auto mechanic should check for oil stains under the car, which indicate the presence of oil leakage. When checking oil, many experts advise to pay attention to the color of the oil and not its smell.

If the oil has a burnt smell or it is too coal-black, then there is a high probability that the car has engine problems and the owner has not changed the oil for a long time, which can also indicate the attitude towards the vehicle.

8) Compression in the engine


Unfortunately, when buying a used car, many of us neglect a serious check of the car engine, the repair of which can be half the cost of the car. Before a detailed check of the motor, diagnostics are carried out by ear, running on cold engine and listening carefully how it works power unit as it warms up.

Remember that the engine must operate without extraneous crackles, noises and knocks, which may indicate that the car owner has used poor quality oil, fuel, and generally did not follow the vehicle.

But the most important study that needs to be done is measuring the compression in each cylinder of the engine, which will indicate possible wear on engine parts. For this, as a rule, a device called a compressometer is used. Each car and engine model has its own compression, so you cannot do without a specialist.

If, when checking the compression, it is revealed that the compression in some cylinder is lower than in others and does not correspond to the factory one, then this car cannot be bought.

9) Exhaust pipe and smoke


When checking how the engine is working, do not forget to check the exhaust of the car, paying attention to the color of the smoke from exhaust pipe... Blue, black or white smoke indicates that something is wrong with the car engine. It is possible that after the purchase you will be faced with an expensive repair.

10) Brake system and transmission


Each of us wants to purchase safe car... Brakes are one of the most important safety-related systems in cars. When checking the brake system, the level and quality of the brake system is checked. Its tightness. It is also recommended to check parking brake ("handbrake") putting the car on the slope. Including often auto mechanics, when diagnosing the chassis of a car (during a test drive), choose a flat section of the road in order to brake sharply, checking the efficiency of the entire brake system.

When braking, an experienced mechanic first of all pays attention to whether the vehicle is braking on a straight line or if the road is shifting. Pay attention to the sound when braking. If there is a whistle, grinding or knocking sound, then brake system may have flaws and breakdowns.


During a check while driving a car, the most important thing is to make a diagnosis, since in the event of a transmission breakdown, repairs can be up to 50% of the car's cost. While driving, the mechanic checks the smoothness of the ride, smoothness of gear shifting and the presence of extraneous sounds (knocking, whistling, squealing, etc.), which may indicate wear of the transmission.

Especially noteworthy is the sound when shifting gears, which may indicate a problem with the gearbox. Also remember to check for a transmission error on the dashboard.

All articles

According to statistics, 30% of Russians who bought a used car, during the first month of its use, reveal a huge number of problems, the elimination of which requires large financial costs. How can you avoid this situation? "Autocode" will tell you how to check the car before buying.

Procedure

We advise you to carry out the first check of the car at the stage of viewing ads. Choose the options you like, write down the license plate and check the cars using the Autocode service. The system will issue a report with detailed history car. If the information in the ad contradicts the data of the report, it is better to immediately abandon this option and not waste time meeting with the seller. Most often sellers hide real mileage, number of owners, work in a taxi and participation in an accident.

Start your meeting by checking your documents. Next, proceed to a visual inspection of the vehicle. Then take a test drive. Finally, go with the seller to the service station. Experts will identify all the technical flaws of the car. This will allow you to bargain or even refuse to buy a bad vehicle.

Documentation check

Before buying a used car, it is important to check the documentation:

  • vehicle registration certificate;
  • seller's passport.

Make sure there are no special inserts and markings in the TCP. What's the catch here? Marks are placed in cases where the numbers of the body or engine are broken, unreadable or unreadable.

Be wary if the seller has provided you with a duplicate title. A duplicate of the title deed is issued if the original was lost or damaged, as well as if there are no free lines left to enter the owners of the car. Therefore, you need to check with the seller how many owners the car had and for what reason a duplicate was made.

But do not rush to refuse to buy a car just because of a duplicate. Check your car using the Autocode service. If these checks do not contradict the words of the seller, then there is nothing to fear. If the service reports that the vehicle had two or more owners, and the seller claims that he is the first and last owner, then it is better to refuse the transaction.

Be sure to check the data from the seller's passport with the data specified in the TCP. Even small differences in the documents can subsequently lead to the fact that you will not be able to register the car.

Checking the car for fines

There is always the possibility of purchasing a car with outstanding fines. Often, sellers themselves do not know about the debts to the traffic police, but sometimes they deliberately conceal information so that all debts fall on the new owner.

Of course, if you buy such a car, you will not be forced to pay these fines, this is the responsibility of the former owner. However, there are situations when, due to non-payment of fines, registration restrictions... In this case new owner will not be able to register the car.

To identify the presence of fines, you can use the following services:

  • the official website of the traffic police;

To check the vehicle through the official website of the traffic police, you need to know both the license plate number of the car and the number of the registration certificate. To check with the Autocode service, it is enough to know the license plate of the car. At the same time, from the report, in addition to the history of fines, you will find out data on mileage, vehicle inspections, OSAGO, restrictions and a lot of other important information.

If the car owner takes out a loan secured by a vehicle or a car loan, then the car is a pledge. If you do not know this information when buying, then subsequently the bank or the mortgagee may oblige you to pay off the loan or collect the collateral from you.

You should not immediately abandon the purchase if the car is pledged to the bank. Sometimes the lending institutions themselves put up for auction and sell interesting models at a fairly low price.

How to check if a car is considered as collateral? To do this, you can use the following sites:

To check the car through the register of the notary chamber, you need to know the information about the pledgor, registration number notifications and VIN of the vehicle. VIN or license plate is enough for “Autocode”.

Mileage check

More than 50% of car sellers roll their mileage. This procedure costs from 1,000 to 3,000 thousand, while the owner increases the cost of the car when selling a larger amount.

There are several ways to check the veracity of the mileage data:

  • check documents;
  • make a competent inspection of the vehicle;
  • contact specialists.

Check for participation in road accidents

More than 75% of cars have been involved in an accident at least once, and sellers often try to hide this fact.

In what cases are restrictions imposed:

  • if the customs authorities have suspicions that the vehicle was cleared under the “gray” scheme;
  • if the vehicle is the subject of a dispute in court;
  • if the owner of the car is obliged by the court to pay a certain amount of money by the bailiff

You can check the car for restrictions on the official website of the traffic police. For this you need to knowVIN- code or chassis number.

You can also check throughofficial website of bailiffs ... To do this, you need to know the passport details of the owner, SNILS or TIN.

Users of the Autocode service canlearn about restrictions superimposed on the vehicle, according to the license plate.

If you buy a used car that is listed in theft, there is a chance that you will have to sue the declared owner. In 85% of such situations, the judge obliges the new owner to return the vehicle to its real owner. In this case, you will lose not only the car, but also the funds spent on it. It is unlikely that it will be possible to return their money to a fraudster who concealed the fact of theft during the transaction.

To check, you can use the following methods:

  • check through the official website of the traffic police;
  • remove the car from the register together with the seller (if the car is stolen, the seller will not be able to perform this action).

You can also use the "Autocode" and get a more detailed report on the car in just 5 minutes.

Checking for work in a taxi

"Autocode" provides its users with the opportunity to check whether the vehicle was listed in the official taxi services.

If the service check gives you such information, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Such a machine, even if it is relatively young, most likely, has practically exhausted its resource. That is, you are in for constant repairs that require large financial investments.

Checking a car for recycling

Nowadays there is a new scheme of fraud among unscrupulous car owners. They remove the vehicle from the register, dispose of it and, as soon as possible, try to sell the vehicle at a fairly low price. As a rule, buyers are attracted by the cheapness. But needless to say, it will not be possible for you to register such a vehicle. The money will be wasted.

Was the car scrapped or not, you can learn from the report "Autocode". To do this, just enter the license plate number of the car.

In addition, you can contact the traffic police with a statement. However, this will require the personal presence of the owner of the car. Or you can use the official website of the traffic police. In this case, you need to know the VIN.

Technical check

Technical verification is just as important as legal. During it, you can visually identify all the flaws and flaws of the vehicle. We will tell you how to properly check.

When checking a car, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:

  • tire wear;
  • the presence of corrosion;
  • paintwork;
  • replacement of body parts;
  • repair on the slipway;
  • motor operation.

To trust technical inspection specialist, use the on-site inspection service. An expert will be on site at the right time and will conduct an examination of the machine using special instruments.

Test Drive

A test drive is an integral part of checking the technical condition of a car. If the seller of the used car says that he does not have time to drive around the city, then it is better to refuse to buy. Most likely, serious flaws are hidden from you, which appear during movement.

Before a test drive, ask the seller what investments will be needed after the purchase. Most often, under the guise of minor flaws, rather large problems are hidden, which will have to be spent heavily. Remember carefully all the faults that the seller says. During the test drive, they will have to pay more attention.

While driving, walk a small or more high speeds... Check if there is extraneous noise or knocking. For example, if the steering wheel vibrates while driving, then later this can lead to the replacement of the box. And such a procedure costs at least 30,000 rubles.

Car check with specialists

If you are not sure about own forces, then it is better to check the car with specialists - in a diagnostic center or service station.

Thoroughly approach the choice of service station. You should not ask the seller for advice, since outbids have an agreement with the station workers. You will not be able to get reliable information from them.

It is better to choose a service station that specializes in your car brand for the following reasons:

  • the masters are well versed in this model;
  • there is specialized equipment;
  • there is software for diagnostics on a computer.

Avoid dealerships. The price is high there, and the service is poor.

Ask the station master maintenance all questions that arose during the check. A competent employee will easily tell you whether parts have been replaced, painting and other manipulations with the car, which later can bring you a lot of trouble.

Now you know how to check a car before buying. Good luck!

All the most important information we have collected about the purchase of a car in the book "Safe purchase of a used car".