How to check a used car before money changes hands

The price on the advert is only one part of a used-car purchase. Records, inspection results and written terms deserve the same attention as the test drive.

A used-car viewing is where you check more than paintwork, mileage and whether the radio connects to your phone. Use the appointment to match the car to its paperwork, test the basic functions, request records and decide whether an inspection is necessary before any money leaves your account.

A clean interior and a pleasant test drive do not replace documents, an inspection report and a written agreement. Questions are much easier to deal with before payment than once the car has changed hands.

Match the car to its paperwork

Ask to see the registration certificate, licence disc, service book, workshop invoices and the seller’s ID. Photograph the VIN or chassis number, engine number, registration number and odometer reading, then compare every number with the documents in front of you.

A different name on the registration certificate does not require an argument at the viewing. Ask who the title holder is, why the seller is handling the sale and how the transfer paperwork will be handed over.

Government guidance indicates that the buyer must submit the registration paperwork to the registering authority within 21 days of purchase.

Test the car, then book an inspection

Use the test drive to check the brakes, steering, clutch, gearbox, lights, windows, air conditioning, central locking and dashboard warning lights. Ask for both keys. Open the boot and check the spare wheel or repair kit, jack, wheel brace and locking wheel-nut key.

Check the spare-wheel setup and locking wheel-nut key before leaving the viewing.

Western Cape guidance describes a roadworthy test as a legal requirement when a vehicle changes ownership. A roadworthy certificate does not stop you from arranging an independent inspection before payment.

The AA recommends a pre-purchase condition check, with its 125-point inspection covering areas such as mechanical condition and vehicle history.

An inspection records the car’s condition on the day a workshop sees it. A written agreement should then state what still needs repair, replacement or delivery before collection.

Put every agreed detail in writing

The agreement should record the buyer and seller details, vehicle registration number, VIN, engine number, mileage, sale price, deposit, balance, payment date and collection date.

List promised repairs, spare keys, service records, accessories and documents. “Air conditioning repair” leaves room for dispute; “air conditioning repaired before collection, with invoice supplied” does not.

Set aside money for tyres, servicing, licence renewal and repairs separately from the purchase price.

Check once more before final payment

Photograph the car, odometer, VIN, licence disc, keys and paperwork handed over on collection day. Compare the car with the inspection report and signed agreement before the final transfer.

Set aside an emergency cash buffer before collection, rather than using every available rand on the purchase amount.

A used car purchase is not a race to get the keys before someone else does. The seller, paperwork, vehicle condition and price should tell the same story before payment. A deal that cannot withstand a few careful questions is not ready for your money.