Used Car Inspection Checklist Before You Buy

IndiaWish Team · Buying used · 4 min read

Buying a used car is safest when you check it in three passes: papers, the car itself, and a proper test drive. Most expensive mistakes come from skipping the first one. Take your time; a genuine seller won't rush you.

Part 1: Documents

Ask for the originals:

• RC (registration certificate): the owner's name should match the seller. Check the registration date, fuel type and colour against the car.
• Insurance: valid on the day of sale. Ask about past claims; many claims can mean past damage. If the seller has a No Claim Bonus, remember it belongs to the seller and does not move to you with the car.
• PUC certificate: valid.
• Service history: the service book or the brand's online service records. Regular service at the right intervals is one of the best signs of a well-kept car.
• Loan: if the RC shows hypothecation to a bank, the seller must close the loan and give you the bank's NOC and Form 35. Don't pay the full price until this is settled.

Check the car's registration details, insurance and any hypothecation on VAHAN citizen services or the mParivahan app. You can also look up pending traffic challans on the Parivahan e-challan site.

Part 2: Outside the car

Look at the car in daylight, when it is dry.

• Panel gaps: gaps between doors, bonnet and boot should be even on both sides.
• Paint: different shades between panels, paint on rubber seals, or overspray suggest repair work after an accident.
• Rust: check under the doors, the wheel arches, the boot floor and under the car.
• Glass: all windows should carry the same brand marking; a different one means it was replaced.
• Tyres: even wear on all four, including the spare. Uneven wear can mean alignment or suspension problems. Tyres have a date code on the side (the last four digits are the week and year of making).
• Lights: headlights, indicators, brake lights, reverse light and fog lamps.

Part 3: Under the bonnet

Check with the engine cold.

• Oil: on the dipstick it should be golden to dark brown, not milky (milky oil can mean a head gasket problem) and not gritty.
• Coolant: at the right level, clean, with no oil floating on it.
• Leaks: look under the engine and on the ground where the car was parked.
• Belts and hoses: no cracks or bulges.
• Battery: check the date on it and look for white powder around the terminals.
• Chassis number: must match the RC. It is usually stamped on the body near the windscreen or under a seat, and also shown on a plate.

Part 4: Inside the car

• Odometer: compare with the service records. Heavy wear on the steering wheel, gear knob and pedals on a car showing low kilometres is a warning sign.
• AC: should blow cold within a minute or two.
• Electricals: power windows, central locking, mirrors, music system, wipers, horn and every warning light on the dashboard (they should light up when you turn the key, then go off).
• Smell and floor: a damp smell or water marks under the floor mats can mean flood damage.
• Seat belts and airbags: all belts should lock when pulled hard; the airbag light must go off after starting.

Part 5: Test drive (at least 20 minutes)

• Start from cold and listen for rattles. Some smoke on a cold morning is normal, but blue or black smoke is not.
• Drive in traffic, on a smooth road and over a few bumps.
• Clutch: it should bite in the middle of the pedal travel, not at the very top.
• Gearbox: smooth changes, no grinding, no jerks in an automatic.
• Brakes: the car should stop straight, with no vibration in the pedal.
• Steering: no pulling to one side, no knocking sounds when you turn at full lock.
• Suspension: no thuds or clunks over bumps.

A full inspection by a mechanic you trust, or at a brand's service centre, is worth the cost on any car.

Part 6: Price and paperwork

Compare prices for the same model, year, fuel and kilometres on used cars in Hyderabad or across IndiaWish. Use what you found in the inspection to negotiate.

When you agree:

1. Pay by bank transfer so there is a record.
2. Sign a sale agreement with both names, the date and time, registration, engine and chassis numbers, and the price.
3. Collect the original RC, insurance, PUC, service book, both keys, the bank NOC and Form 35 if there was a loan.
4. Start the ownership transfer at the RTO with Form 29 and Form 30 (many states allow you to begin online on Parivahan). If the car moves to another state, you also need an NOC from the original RTO and re-registration in your state.
5. Transfer the insurance into your name.

Fees and the exact papers differ by state, so check your state transport department's website before you go.

Quick checklist

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