Inspection checklist for buying a used car in the UAE
When buying a preloved car, whether through an online seller or a dealership, there’s always a risk attached. Often we fall in love with the look and feel of a car, and make decisions from the heart. It’s important to not get swept up in the excitement of finding a model you like.
You want to be enjoying the car for a long time and that needs your due-diligence. Buying a used car in the UAE? Here’s what you need to check before you make a purchase:
#1 Exteriors Inspection
1. Check the condition of the Car’s body: Inspect the exterior of your car carefully. Check for dents, scratches, and damage on all doors, hood and trunk of the car. Examine the car closely to check if it has been repainted. There should be no color difference on any parts of the car’s body. While a minor dent or scratch might be okay, you don’t want to end up with a car that’s been in an accident. So do check to see if any dents have been repaired shoddily. Make sure the door hinges don’t feel loose when you open & shut them. Finally, rust is a cause of big concern, so inspect the bottom of doors, underside of the car carefully.
2. Check the tires:
Ideally all 4 tires should be of the same brand, indicating that they have been replaced at the same time. If they are different, make sure to check with your seller about the reason. The tire tread should have been worn out equally on all, if not it could indicate that the car had been driven recklessly.
3. Check the top:
Inspect the roof for any dents from a clear height. If you come across a major irregularity look into the car’s history for any accidental damage. Damage on the roof usually indicates the car has been a major accident.
Check out best budget high quality cars:
4. Check lights & glasses:
Inspect the glass panels on the windows and windscreen for cracks. Even minor cracks can get worse and require expensive repair later. Next, go over all the lights of the vehicle such as headlamps, tail lamps, third brake lamp, and fog lamps.
5. Check suspension
One of the easiest methods to check suspensions is the bounce test. First, make sure the car is parked on an even surface. Press the front of the car down with your own weight. Go to the rear of the car and repeat the same. If you find your car shaking even after you release the force then it indicates that the suspension system has worn-out.
#2 Interior Inspection
After making sure the exterior is good, the next step is to look inside the cabin. This step is less extensive, but still equally important
● Check for a musty smell which could indicate water damage, and is generally very hard to get rid of. Lift up the floor mats to check for marks of water damage as well.
● Look for scratches or dents on the dashboards and ripping or spots on the seats ● Make sure the AC unit , the radio etc is functioning properly
● Confirm how many km the vehicle has been run by checking the odometer reading.
● Finally, switch on the car and check the parking sensors, wipers, gauges and all the accessories.
#3 Take it for a Drive!
The ultimate verdict, of course, depends on how the car drives.
You can verify the car’s pickup and condition of the breaks as you test drive. Make sure that there are no unusual noises, squeaking or squealing of the brakes.
CHECK OUT:
When buying a preloved car, whether through an online seller or a dealership, there’s always a risk attached. Often we fall in love with the look and feel of a car, and make decisions from the heart. It’s important to not get swept up in the excitement of finding a model you like.
You want to be enjoying the car for a long time and that needs your due-diligence. Buying a used car in the UAE? Here’s what you need to check before you make a purchase:
#1 Exteriors Inspection
1. Check the condition of the Car’s body: Inspect the exterior of your car carefully. Check for dents, scratches, and damage on all doors, hood and trunk of the car. Examine the car closely to check if it has been repainted. There should be no color difference on any parts of the car’s body. While a minor dent or scratch might be okay, you don’t want to end up with a car that’s been in an accident. So do check to see if any dents have been repaired shoddily. Make sure the door hinges don’t feel loose when you open & shut them. Finally, rust is a cause of big concern, so inspect the bottom of doors, underside of the car carefully.
2. Check the tires:
Ideally all 4 tires should be of the same brand, indicating that they have been replaced at the same time. If they are different, make sure to check with your seller about the reason. The tire tread should have been worn out equally on all, if not it could indicate that the car had been driven recklessly.
3. Check the top:
Inspect the roof for any dents from a clear height. If you come across a major irregularity look into the car’s history for any accidental damage. Damage on the roof usually indicates the car has been a major accident.
Check out best budget high quality cars:
4. Check lights & glasses:
Inspect the glass panels on the windows and windscreen for cracks. Even minor cracks can get worse and require expensive repair later. Next, go over all the lights of the vehicle such as headlamps, tail lamps, third brake lamp, and fog lamps.
5. Check suspension
One of the easiest methods to check suspensions is the bounce test. First, make sure the car is parked on an even surface. Press the front of the car down with your own weight. Go to the rear of the car and repeat the same. If you find your car shaking even after you release the force then it indicates that the suspension system has worn-out.
#2 Interior Inspection
After making sure the exterior is good, the next step is to look inside the cabin. This step is less extensive, but still equally important
● Check for a musty smell which could indicate water damage, and is generally very hard to get rid of. Lift up the floor mats to check for marks of water damage as well.
● Look for scratches or dents on the dashboards and ripping or spots on the seats ● Make sure the AC unit , the radio etc is functioning properly
● Confirm how many km the vehicle has been run by checking the odometer reading.
● Finally, switch on the car and check the parking sensors, wipers, gauges and all the accessories.
#3 Take it for a Drive!
The ultimate verdict, of course, depends on how the car drives.
You can verify the car’s pickup and condition of the breaks as you test drive. Make sure that there are no unusual noises, squeaking or squealing of the brakes.
CHECK OUT:
