How to Buy a Used Car – Comprehensive Guide 2025

How to Buy a Used Car?

Buying a car can be an intimidating task; a vehicle is, for most people, either the biggest or the second biggest purchase of their lives in terms of monetary value.

So, it comes as no surprise then that caution is advisable, especially when it comes to a pre-owned/used car.

And you know why people avoid buying a used car? Scam and Fraud! No one wants to become a victim of fraud while investing their all-life savings in a car.

Dealers will tell you “bumper to bumper genuine hai ustaad” but in truth, the only thing genuine thing will be the bumper.

You really need eagle eyes to do inspection of the car you’re buying used, because offline dealers are never a person to trust on, they’ll always lie and lying is the way how they earn money.

Step-by-step guide to Buy a Used Car

While buying a used car is certainly more of an art than it is a science—there are many factors at play and no single correct formula—today we will be arming you with some information that you should bear in mind while buying a used car.

So, without further ado, let us get started.

Step 1 : Decide Your Budget and Used Car Models

The first and foremost factor to consider would be your budget, more specifically, the cars that you can buy within your budget.

Download any authentic car selling app
Click on used car search, apply the price filter, set your desired budget, and see all the cars that are available in that price range, or you can click on different price brackets to see the cars available in that bracket.
You also come to a particular web site called their blog section, which gives various kinds of best cars of any budget and helps make a decision easy for selecting cars of your desired needs

Step 2: Carry On Your Research

• By finalizing some vehicles by taking them from your range list that fit into the budget you are looking out for, further research into your chosen one is most essential.

• Do not make a decision based on want or emotion alone; ask yourself: What features do you want? Can you put up with high maintenance/refueling costs?

• What about resale and parts availability? Compare the same category of cars that you would choose. These questions and many others should be answered before you decide on a car.

How to Buy a Used Car - Comprehensive Guide 2025 — How to Buy a Used Car – Comprehensive Guide 2025

You can get an idea from the following sections of a good car selling website, if available on the platform:

Blog Comparisons – You can read the used car comparisons. It will help you make a profound decision.
Car Review section – You can read reviews left by users on different cars.
Blog – You can read different car reviews to make a good decision
Forum-You can interact and discuss with rich auto lovers for determining what suits your best. There may be fan groups for a plethora of car models and brands like Baleno, Cultus, Honda, and Toyota.
YouTube Channel – A good car selling website should have numerous reviews on all the cars sold in Pakistan. Such videos can make you aware of the different features, pros, and cons of the cars that interest you or fall within your budget.
Facebook groups– An excellent car selling website will have very active FB groups wherein people from all over Pakistan are discussing vehicles and problems they are facing with their counterparts. You can ask questions too.

Step 3: List out the specific cars you intend to purchase and schedule a visit with the seller

Shortlist the cars and contact the owners. Follow these steps:

Go to the used car section of the website.
Use filters, such as price, mileage, color, city, registered city, etc.
Hundreds of car ads will appear. A summary of cars is given on this new page; if you want a detailed summary, just click on the ad, and you will get the detailed information of the car.
Save the ads that seem reasonable to you so that you can contact the seller at a later time.
Contact your friend or any expert who knows about cars and their prices to get more insight into what you are going to buy
Call the seller or send him a message to inquire about his/her car.

What Should You Do While Talking to The Owner/Seller?

Ask about the additional information regarding the car, i.e., exact mileage, availability of original documents/file, any known issue, accident history (if any), token tax to date, etc.
Try to get an idea if the seller is willing to give you any kind of discount on car prices or not. Remember that most of the owners will not give any kind of concession in the asking price of the car on the phone. However, there is still a margin for serious buyers. When you meet the seller, he/she can slash the asking price if they see you are willing and a serious buyer.

Once You Have Narrowed Down a Vehicle, Set up a Meeting Time and Location with the Seller!

Remember to meet at a neutral place, and if you are meeting at the seller’s house or his/her appointed place, take somebody with you.
Never go alone to meet the seller, and never carry the cash – these are golden rules to follow.

Ideally, bring along someone who can inspect the car so that you can make an informed decision.

Step 4: Get the Car Inspected Before Buying

After you have chosen a vehicle, you should highly consider having it inspected either by a trusted mechanic or some inspection team, which is specially trained and properly equipped to carry out this task.
The inspection Service checks the mechanical and physical condition of the car and gives you the actual picture of the car in real-time. It’s like getting the car X rayed.
If you are aware of the car, then you can inspect it without any doubt. Check for any noise coming from the car, especially the engine noise, also do check the car blow it will give you the idea in which condition the engine of the car is. Moreover, check for body rust/accidentals, body paint, suspension, tires, etc. of the car.

The auction sheet is a snapshot of the condition of the car before it goes to the Japanese port, then comes to the Pakistani port, and finally lands at a dealership in Pakistan.

Step 5: Take a Test Drive

Once you have selected a car, it is essential that you test-drive it. This is the best way to ensure that there is no mismatch between what you were expecting and what you got.
While a detailed check will inform you of most flaws with the car, you can only get a true decision when you take the car out and drive for 3-5 kilometers and ask yourself if that’s what you wanted.
Most people change their minds after test drives, because the car was never what they wanted to get in the first place.

Step 6: Examining the Documents

This is perhaps the most critical step. Double-check the chassis number with the one on the documents, and if there is any discrepancy, immediately stop pursuing the car.
Also, check whether the book or the file of the car is duplicate or not because it affects the price of the vehicle, and many times it leads to fraud as well.
Also, check the GD (goods declaration), BL (bill of lading), and Export Certificate also.

Step 7: Payment Method

If everything went according to the plan, then you should reach this step. But again, here also you have to be cautious: you should strictly avoid cash.
Pay the owner by getting a Pay Order made in his name. You must have evidence and money trail of the transaction.
You are advised to carry out this transaction through your bank. Make sure to sign the Sale Receipt and Delivery Letter. Keep these in a safe place.

Step 8: Transfer the Vehicle under Your Name

Even if the car is in your garage, the process is not over. You must transfer the vehicle under your name since driving on an open letter is illegal.

Step 9: Change Engine Oil, Air Filter, and Tyre – How to Buy a Used Car – Comprehensive Guide 2025

Once you have purchased the car, you must change its engine oil, air filter, and tires, if required.

We hope you have a great experience in buying a used car and that this guide has been helpful to you. Happy Purchasing.

How to Buy a Used Car – Comprehensive Guide 2025

Note: The information above might not be accepted 100%. Please verify from your own sources. We will not be responsible for any kind of loss due to our content.

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