Maxim Rakitin, editor-in-chief of the online automotive publication Quto, advises contacting a car selection specialist when buying a used car. In addition, the car must be checked against all available databases.
You need to request the VIN from the owner, because very often fake VINs are indicated in the advertisements. This needs to be done even before the trip in order to collect as much information about the car as possible. There is no need to be shy. If the seller is an honest person, he will give you exactly the numbers that are recorded in the vehicle title and registration certificate.
The expert emphasized: when inspecting a car, it is important to check the marking plates against the VIN number indicated by the seller.
If you are not a specialist, look on the Internet for what the original marking plates look like. The technical condition of the car is best checked with diagnostics. A person buying a used car is unlikely to understand all the systems of the car - suspension, engine, gearbox. Therefore, diagnostics are necessary.
Rakitin advised inspecting the car on a lift. He explained that this would help to understand the condition of the car.
For several years, fraudsters have been practicing the so-called quarter welding. The VIN number of the car, as a rule, is located under the front right seat. If any changes have been made to the car, then a piece with the old number is cut out and the one the fraudsters need is welded in. Therefore, if you see a weld, you can safely turn around and leave.
The most important advice from an expert: find a good car selector. These specialists know the market and know how to check documents, identify fake vehicle titles and registration certificates, and much more.
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