Buying my first (used) car. What to check during the first visit?

[asad.qmr]

Assalam o alaikum!

I am looking to buy my first car and i was wondering if anyone here could guide me as to how should i go about finalizing a deal. I intend to hire PakWheels Car Inspection Services but only after paying an initial visit and feeling somewhat satisfied with the car myself. I will probably bring a mechanic with myself on my first visit as well. I am interested in the following information:

1. What to check for / how to verify the registration papers of the car?
2. How to make sure that the vehicle i am interested in buying isn't stolen / snatched?
3. Is there a way for me to confirm how many different owners the car had?
4. Is there a sure-fire way to know if the odometer has been tampered with?
5. What things should my mechanic check during the first visit?
6. If I hire inspection services of PakWheels, Would they be able to confirm with a 100% certainty if the car has been in any major accidents? What about the minor accidents and touch-ups? What is the accuracy of their assessments?

[flyingfeather]

Which city you are from and whats the make model of car?

[pwuser151705762629]

1. Depends on your city & province of vehicle registration. Please share that so we can guide you better

2. Visit the main traffic police office in your area (not local thana)

3. Yes, the registration book (if complete in all aspects) should have that detail. Seller should have a file maintaining sale/purchase agreements from the date car left showroom to him/her till today's date.

4. No.

5. Body condition, dents, rust, panel alignment, rubber seals on doors, trunk, lift carpet of trunk and check the body, check under spare tire, check vehicle chassis plate & number against the documents, check engine number against documents, check oil, air filters. Check all electronics, lights, rear defroster, ac for few minutes. Drive around including zero to 100 acceleration, go over 1-2 speed bumps, and full 360 degree left and right turns (full turn of steering). Any unusual sounds should be detected by mechanic.

6. There is no certainty, there is so much jugaar in market that you would be surprised yourself. I haven't personally used PW inspection, I did call them once, they set an appointment never showed up. I didn't bother again but you can search this forum for their honest reviews. Best bet to avoid any screwed up car is to buy one from your colleage/relative which you have seen day to day or week to week - since any unusual thing can be observed/told in a personal relation vs a dealer and totally unknown car.

All the best!

[asad.qmr]

I am from Karachi and am currently interested in buying a swift 2012/13 model. My budget is somewhere around 13/14 lacs. I haven't finalized everything yet though. All i've done so far is bookmark a few cars on olx and PW and plan to pay a visit in the next few days. But before that, i just wanted to learn a few basic things so i dont go unprepared. I am an amateur when it comes to cars and stuff.

[asad.qmr]

Thanks for the detailed response. That was quite helpful. I am in Karachi. I dont know much about cars as yet. Not even basic things like how to verify a car's registration papers. I will take a look at my father's car papers to get some idea. And the rest is what i'll hopefully get to learn here.

Buying from a relative/colleague would be the best option for me as well but unfortunately that's not an option right now.

[flyingfeather]

If you haven't seen a file before, then you should take some friend / colleague along who knows what to look in a file. In khi number of previous owners can't be ascertained as most of the cars are on open letter. Even if it is not open letter you can get a fresh book by paying 4000 or so. There are a lot of 'fankariyan' in khi vehicles so be very cautious and do take someone along who is really into cars.