Vehicle History Check
Before inspecting a vehicle of interest, it is always wise to check its history. Performing a vehicle history check helps save your time, nerves and money, and by raising awareness puts you in a much better position during purchase negotiations. VINinfo.ee Service checks vehicle records from various listing portals and many other databases, compiling all information into one report. You should not rely solely on seller information and should also order a vehicle history report.
The vehicle's mileage should be supported by various service invoices, replaced parts and repair records. Do not trust only the service book, as it may be falsified. Service history can be verified at dealerships, who in addition to local records can usually also query work done at other dealerships (including in other European countries).
Useful information can also be obtained by communicating with the owner. Question the seller about the car's technical condition, mileage, maintenance, and overall condition. If you know the specific model's weak points, ask about them. The seller should be able to answer these questions adequately.
Checking Vehicle Technical Condition and Data
If you feel uncertain, take a friend or acquaintance with more experience when inspecting the vehicle. You can also use the help of specialized companies. auto24's partner Automaakler.ee is created for people who find car buying difficult and unfamiliar.
Check on site whether the vehicle's completeness matches what was published in the listing (e.g., alloy wheels haven't been replaced with steel wheels and the radio hasn't been removed).
Compare the data in the technical passport (VIN, registration number, etc.) with the numbers on the vehicle body.
Ensure that the seller has the right to sell the vehicle (e.g., validity of authorization, spouse's consent, etc.).
Don't blindly trust the odometer reading and service book. Look for maintenance stickers on the vehicle body or in the engine compartment and compare them with the car's odometer reading and service book information. Focus on assessing the vehicle's technical condition and wear. For example, wear on pedals, steering wheel, seats; body condition; engine start-up and strange noises; chassis; functionality and condition of interior equipment and accessories.
It's definitely worth doing a test drive while at the wheel yourself, preferably with the radio turned off. This prevents a situation where some external noise is deliberately or accidentally masked by radio noise. The test drive route should cover roads with different surfaces; particularly useful are bumpy or gravel roads, which provide an initial overview of the car's suspension condition.
To assess the car's technical condition, you can take it to the nearest inspection point (for checking chassis, suspension, brakes, emissions), to a trusted and self-chosen (not seller-recommended) repair shop or dealership. Usually, for a small fee, you can get a good picture of the specific vehicle's technical condition and components needing repair.
Who to Buy From?
From a private individual When buying, the advantage may be the development or non-development of personal trust, the person is selling e.g. property that has been in their use for a long time, about which they can share lots of detailed information. A price advantage compared to professional sellers who need to make a profit is highly likely.
Small businesses Try to operate as efficiently as possible and lack larger fixed costs in the form of light advertisements, mirror halls and glass palaces. A likely price advantage compared to dealerships, but one must be careful that cost optimization hasn't turned into customer deception.
Large dealerships Likely the highest quality sales work and most pleasant customer service, possibility to negotiate additional warranties, greater possibility of resolving potential claims. Quality service comes at a higher price - often up to a third of the car's price.
You shouldn't blindly prefer anyone. The most important thing is to focus on evaluating the vehicle's background, condition, and data accuracy, and ensure that the vehicle meets your desires and capabilities.
Additional Important Information
Always enter into a written sales contract that specifies the car seller, price, vehicle data, accessories and condition, odometer reading. Additionally, everything agreed upon with the seller should be written into the contract. It's worth avoiding agreements where there's a desire to write a lower amount than the actual sale price in the contract. We recommend using the contract template prepared by auto24 lawyers, which can also incorporate your own additions. The pre-filled contract template is available through the specific vehicle seller's auto24 account.
If possible, pay for the purchase by bank transfer, this leaves a trace of the transaction and makes it much easier to prove potential disputes later. Check who the recipient of the money is: whether the person in the contract and the seller are the same. The seller must provide you with a document proving payment for the vehicle.
It is always advisable to involve a familiar expert in the buying and selling process and to believe as little as possible in sellers' sweet talk, especially about the car's previous owner (a woman or pensioner who only drove the car to church on Sundays, etc.).
The sales listing and contacts give the impression that it's a well-known car dealership, which is used to increase credibility. The car inspection may take place on dealership premises, but when signing the sales contract, it turns out that someone else is actually selling the vehicle, e.g., a friend or mother-in-law of the dealership's mechanic.
If the owner dislikes technical or background checks of the vehicle or hurries the decision-making by referring to lack of time or abundance of other interested parties, this should be taken as a warning sign.
