If equipment and price are the main factors when choosing a brand new car, then the condition and history of the vehicle are very important factors when buying a used car. To avoid unpleasant surprises, bravoauto has prepared tips to consider when looking at and buying a used car.

Let's start with the fact that it is possible to buy a used car both from a private person and from car dealers. Prices are often slightly lower with private sellers, however, it should be noted that private individuals do not take any responsibility for the car sold. Reliable used car dealers, such as bravoauto, provide their cars with an official used car warranty, which will protect the buyer from potential defects. Likewise, solid used car dealerships will immediately provide information about accidents and defects, if the car has any, without asking.

Used car inspection

Nowadays, almost everything can be done in the digital environment, however, when buying a used car, it is still recommended to see the car in person. Observing the ancient truth that four eyes see more than two, it is preferable to go to look at the car in pairs. This increases the possibility of observing and discovering hidden defects at first glance. Important - look at the car either in daylight or in lighted rooms, and don't let yourself be rushed. A car is one of life's most expensive purchases, so it's worth spending enough time researching it.

Technical condition check

Although it is best to check the technical condition of the car at the service, you can also evaluate the most important elements of the vehicle yourself. Be sure to check the engine oil level, and also check that the coolant is at the correct level. Be sure to ask the dealer to remove the engine's decorative plastic cover so you can see if all the tubes and wires are in order and if there are any visible oil leaks. When you start the car, look at the engine temperature generator - if the vehicle is already at operating temperature, it may have been specially started and warmed up before your arrival to hide unhealthy sounds that can only be heard in a cold car. In this case, it is worthwhile to be cautious and consider checking the car at the service.

Visual status check

In order to be able to fully assess the visual condition of the car, it should be clean, because it is easy to miss rust, dents and scratches on a dirty car. A reliable and honest car seller will point out visual defects and inform about accidents and related repairs, but it is better, of course, to assess the visual condition of the car yourself. You pay attention to whether the gaps between the doors, fenders, engine hood and trunk lid are even and do not differ. Also, previous repairs can be indicated by color differences between car parts. It should be noted, however, that repainted individual bodywork elements do not necessarily mean that the car has suffered a serious accident - the parts may also be painted, for example, due to small parking lot collisions. It is best to check the paint on the car with a paint thickness gauge, which will show exactly which parts of the car have been painted and/or puttyed.

Car history and mileage

Correcting a car's mileage is still one of the biggest problems in the used car market across Europe. Although it is a criminal offence, unscrupulous dealers still engage in speedometer 'rewinding'. When you buy a car with a downwardly adjusted mileage, you not only overpay for the car itself, but also may not observe the correct maintenance intervals. For example, a timing belt replacement interval can be missed, which in the worst case can lead to its rupture and a very expensive engine repair.

One of the best ways to check a car's mileage is through the service records available from authorized dealers. If the car was bought and serviced in Latvia, this information can be found at the dealer where the car was serviced. However, the history can already be checked for cars coming from Europe today, because for many manufacturers, the car's mileage, maintenance and repairs are recorded not only in a specific dealer's system, but in the unified manufactured database. Thus, an official representative in Latvia can also see the history of a car serviced in Europe. Also, of course, you can also use today's popular car history checking portals such as AutoDNA un CarVertical. It should be noted that for older cars that are no longer serviced at dealers, the mileage and maintenance performed can also be checked by the service invoices that the previous owner often brings with the car. Bravo to all of us for cars we offer to receive AutoDNA for free.

Test drive

If no significant defects are found after the technical and visual inspection of the car, then the next step is a test drive. It would be highly recommended to do this, because on the one hand, it will show whether you feel comfortable in the car and whether it meets your requirements, on the other hand, the test drive may also reveal various shortcomings of the car. During the test drive, it is advisable to test the car both on a rough surface and at a higher speed, because it is in these conditions that various types of defects can be detected. Pay attention to whether the car accelerates and shifts gears smoothly, whether there is no unnecessary noise when braking and the car is not pulled to one side, and also listen to the operation of the suspension. If there are any unnecessary sounds and doubts about the condition of the car, then it is definitely worth visiting a reliable service that will professionally check all the components of the vehicle. It is better to invest an extra 100 euros to check the car at the service than to spend thousands on its repairs.