Old Car Purchasing Tips
Used car is a section of the car industry that's not only vast but also very competitive. Yet there is one aspect that worries every used car purchaser and that is the authenticity of the vehicle.

To ease out this journey we put together some important tips and essential information so that you are well informed and ready to buy your dream car .

Old Car Buying Tips

  • Engine:an untouched car engine is the best deal. But if you do not get this, buy a car with a single reboring and a clean Rs.-10,000 - 20,000 lowers the value of the car .
  • Tyres:If you don't get a good set of radial car tyres, try to decrease the price by Rs.2, 500/- per bald tyre. Look at the wear and tear. If it is not even then keep a Rs1000/- aside for the alignment that needs to be done.
  • Chassis:It is very important to check the undercarriage of the car. The bodyline will tell you if the car has been in an accident or not. Open the bonnet and look at the paintwork. Here you can actually make out if the car has been repainted or not.
  • Battery:If the battery is not new, decrease the price of the car by Rs.2,500/- for a new battery, which you will have to buy to run the car.Check to see if the battery is reconditioned or not.
  • Check the following papers:

  1) Blue book - Registration Certificate of the car . Check if it is a duplicate. Check with the RTO for further authentication.
  2)Car Insurance certificate - Costs Rs. 500-600. For minimum 3rd party liability insurance.
  3)Pollution Under Control certificate- This is a must for transfer of name. It usually costs Rs. 50/ to get it, provided the car meets the norms. A must nowadays.

Old Car Documentation
Having all the important papers before the final payment is done is an absolute must. The papers of the car are as or more important than the car and you must be careful about receiving all the documents before making the payment. You might be led into buying a stolen car . Please refer to this checklist before handing over your hard-earned money. The list is as follows:

Transfer of Car Ownership Documents
Car Registration Papers: Check the state of car registration mentioned in the papers. The state of registration mentioned in the books should be the state in which you plan to use the car as according to the State rules, a driver is not allowed to drive a car that does not belong to that state. If the state of registration is different from the state that you plan to use the car , please ensure that the seller transfers the registration to the state that you plan to use the car in. Transferring the registration from one state to another is a cumbersome process and may cost money (particularly if entry is payable - normally applicable if the new car is transferred within 18 months to a different state). You must ensure that the seller gives you papers of the car with the registration of the vehicle in the correct state.

RTO tax receipt
The RTO tax is a once in a lifetime tax and should have been paid by the original owner of the car . If the owner of the car has not paid it, it can add up to double digits in thousands, which you will have to ultimately, bear.

Road Tax
This tax is also a recurring one and even though the payable amount is a small sum, a large number of owners ignore or forget about it. Ensure that the seller gives you the papers for this tax, or clears all payments before he sells the car to you.

Insurance
Insurance is the most important document for any car . Insist on the insurance papers, as these papers are mandatory for any transfer by the RTO. Premium for Insurance is paid on a regular basis and it is advisable to check the due date. Also, ensure transfer of the insurance papers to your name.

Invoice
Do not forget to get the original invoice of the car from the original owner. You can know details like engine no., chassis no., date of delivery, delivery dealer and whether the car was financed or not.

Documents for a Used Car that was bought on finance
If you are planning to buy a used car that was bought on finance by the seller, remember to collect the following documents in addition to the above-mentioned ones.

NOC (No Objection Certificate)
From the finance company - see the original copy of this document and retain a photocopy. This document ensures that the finance company has no claim on the car anymore.

Form 35
You must keep a copy of this form, duly signed by the financier.

Ownership Transfer for a Used Car
 When the ownership of a car changes, the original owner has to inform the RTO with whom the car was registered, within 14 days. In case the new owner resides or has a place of business in the jurisdiction of any other RTO, such an RTO will also have to be informed by the transferor.

If the RTO in whose jurisdiction the car is being transferred is in another state, then the transferor must obtain a NO OBJECTION Certificate (NOC) from his RTO and forward it to the RTO in whose jurisdiction the new owner stays. An application for NOC must be accompanied by :

  • A certified copy of car certificate of registration
  • A certified copy of car insurance certificate
  • Evidence of payment of all taxes up-to-date
  • The new owner must inform his RTO within 30 days and send the certificate of registration for the endorsement of ownership in his name.

The certificate of registration must be accompanied by valid insurance, evidence of tax payment, proof of address and NOC if required At the time of registration or transfer of registration, the car is required to be produced before the RTO.

Please ensure to have all the paper work complete when purchasing a Used Car .

SecondHand Car Dealer
The buying of a car depends upon the number of family members at home, reasons for buying and what you expect from that car .Second hand cars can be searched for at three locations:

  • From dealers who sell both new and used cars.
  • From a dealer who deals in only used cars.
  • From individual owners.

Why buy a Old Car ?
The most credible answer is that used cars are cheap. So, be it your first car or the dream vehicle that you always wanted to buy, but had little money, the solution is to hunt out a used one. With large number of new models flooding the market every year, buying used car has never been this good.
But then, buying a used car carries a certain degree of risk as well. After all, with a new car you get the peace of mind that no one has driven the vehicle carelessly or failed to have it maintained on a regular basis. And, if something does go wrong, the vehicle is under warranty-at least for a period of time. These safeties are not usually included in the purchase of a used one. You might have very little chances to know what kind of a past life the car has had.

Nonetheless, buying used car need not be as fraught with anxiety and terror as one might think. For starters, you should know where to look, what to look for, and, most important, how to look. The entire process needs a lot of time and perseverance, so be prepared to do a thorough research. Follow all the guidelines and tips and soon you will be driving the car of your dreams, secure in the knowledge that you paid a fair price for your new set of wheels.

Selecting A OldCar: Before you begin your old or used car search, spend some time considering some factors like:

  • What car you are you looking for?
  • What is your budget for the purchase, (including insurance, repairs, operation and maintenance)?
  • How will you use the car , and
  • How long do you plan to keep it?

Since there are a large number of options available in the used car market, you may find it difficult in narrowing down the search. Decide on the car according to your lifestyle and the use you are planning to put it to, and while you are at it, anticipate future changes as well; after all, you might want to own it for many more years. Talk to friends or acquaintances driving car s that appeal to you, for word of mouth is often the best way to gather information about reliability or quirks of certain car s.

The best bet is to look for something almost new-two years or younger. You could get a real good deal because there are plenty of car owners who don't want to be seen in a 'yesterday's model'. Such a car needs less expenditure on repairs and maintenance as compared to older cars .

Buying a middle-aged car (3-5 years old) that has been treated well by its owner could be a great deal. Car s that have logged 14,000 to 18,000 km a year are prime buys. Many of these car s can be bought at good bargains.

Cars flogged badly by chauffeurs or heavily used ones are like buying trouble. Simply checking the odometer reading is not always a reliable check for the mileage. A car with low mileage, but with a lot of wear on the driver's seat or the brake and accelerator, may indicate tampering with the odometer.

Locating A Used Car: It's prudent to buy a used car whose history is known to you. It could be your relative's, friend's, or neighbor's vehicle. This way you would have some assurance of the car's history. You know they have traveled from home to work and even the number of accidents they have met! Taking it to a mechanic would give you the final idea of the condition and price.

But then, in case you are not that lucky to find a known and willing seller, don't worry. There are a number of other avenues from where buying used cars is simple and trustworthy.

Purchasing Second Hand Car
Buying second hand car now days has become quite a pleasant and comfortable experience. Users can now get the peace of mind that they hit the best deal. There are a variety of options to select from. A few of them are listed below.

New Car Dealers
Often many new car dealers acquire second hand cars through trade-in-deals/exchange schemes. These second hand cars are also likely to come with a limited warranty under which the car dealer is obligated to fix problems with the car s covered by the warranty. The car s with such dealers may cost you a little more, but you at least have the reassurance that the car is somewhat clean and would not fold up in six months. Some Maruti dealers ( Maruti True Value Car s ) also offer reconditioned car s; these car s cost you more than regular market, but are backed by a limited service guarantee. You could also avail a finance to buy these car s as most dealers have tie-ups with financiers.

Second Hand Car Dealers
Second hand car dealers generally sell car s that have seen a bit more use and abuse than those on the new car dealer's lot. You may pay less, but the car is less likely to have received the needed repairs. The first thing to do is check out the dealers reputation and reliability. You could ask for the names and addresses of previous customers and then contact them to find out how they were treated during their transactions. Find out details of any particular problems they faced. But of course, such a method is not entirely foolproof since the car dealer would give you the contacts of only the satisfied customers. Nonetheless, it's a start. And then, of course, your mechanic is always there to give you the final roundup. Many badly maintained car s find their way to these places. It is, thus, essential that you have the car s inspected by your own mechanic. Since most second hand car dealer s operate on a fixed commission, it is a good idea to haggle well with them.

Newspaper Ads and the Internet: Individual Car Owners
When you shop for a second hand car via newspaper classified advertisements, the Internet, or word of mouth, you can get in direct contact with the seller. Though it takes a bit more time, buying from the seller directly gets you a good deal. For starters, both the seller and the buyer save on the cost of having an intermediary. Initially you could identify the correct car by asking relevant questions, probably over telephone, and, when satisfied, should inspect the car and its papers.

Along with the car , evaluate the owner as well, as a person with clean and meticulous habits is also likely to have a well-maintained car .Double check for the ownership of the car . It is important that your mechanic inspects the vehicle as car s are sold on 'as is where is basis' and you don't have recourse to complaints in the future.

Banks and Finance Companies for Second Hand Cars
Banks and loan companies sometimes sell repossessed vehicles to pay off defaulted loans. Quality varies from car to car . But since the car is being sold to recover the amount due on a loan, it may be possible to get a good deal on a reliable car . The procedure is usually cumbersome as these companies accept offers from various buyers and then sell the car to the person who has the best offer.

Pricing And Checking Out The Second Hand Car
To get an idea of the going rates in the market, you could check up with more than one second hand car dealer for the make and model you are interested in. Individual sellers often ask for more than the ongoing rate. To be able to price the car , you need to have a thorough checkup of the car 's condition, the mileage, and age of the car . Taking the car for a test drive, observing the telltale signs in the car s, and examining the papers are few of the must dos. Taking your own mechanic along for evaluation and estimation is a good idea.

Finally, as with most things in life, knowledge is the best weapon, bargaining tool, and protection that you can have when entering a second hand car dealer purchase.