Buying a car with a mileage can be a serious challenge, as one of the biggest risks is the purchase of a car with a "twisted" mileage. In such cases, the seller can hide a real mileage, which can lead to unforeseen repair or maintenance costs. In order to avoid fraud and buy a car that meets the stated characteristics, it is important to follow several important steps. Here are expert advice on how to check the real mileage of the car before buying.
The first step when buying any car is a careful study of documents on it. The right documents can provide important information about the real mileage and history of the car. Car Passport: Carefully review it to comply with the real condition of the vehicle. Pay attention to the recorded dates and the mileage that are indicated there. Service Book: Check the car history. All maintenance must be recorded, indicating the date, place of service and the specified mileage. It is important that the records do not look suspicious - for example, there should be no gaps or sharp run changes. Document authenticity check: If you have doubts about the documents, check their accuracy. For example, consult an official dealer or regional bodies that can confirm or refute information. Service History at the Official Dealer Center: Many car brands have a single database that captures the entire service history. Checking a car through a dealer will give you accurate information about the mileage and work done.
The appearance of the car can tell a lot about his real mileage. Here are some key points to pay attention to. Body: Examine the presence of chips, cracks, scuffs, as well as defects that may indicate a big mileage. For example, after 100,000 km of mileage, significant signs of wear on the body usually begin to appear. Painting: Use a thicknesser to check the thickness of the paint on different parts of the body. If the body was painted, the thickness of the paint layer can be much larger than the factory coating. Body Details: Pay special attention to thresholds, flooring and doors for corrosion. Thoroughly inspect for backlash or traces from repair.
The condition of the glass and the salon can indicate the real mileage of the car. Here's what to look for: Glass: Examine all windows for damage or substitutions. If the glass has been replaced, find out the cause - it could happen due to an accident or a normal wear. Salon: Assess the condition of the seats, steering wheel, upholstery of doors and panels. The ideal state may indicate the possible replacement of the interior parts, which may also be a signal that the mileage of the car has been corrected.
For more accurate detection of "twisted" mileage you can use specialized services and scanners: databases: for Ukrainian cars there are online services where you can check the VIN code or license plates of the vehicle. Such services provide information on the history of service, including mileage. Odometer scanners: In some cases, special scanners can be used to check the electronic car control units. These devices will help to find out whether the indicators have been changed on the odometer.
Visiting a professional service center may provide additional information about the real mileage of the car. Data from control blocks: in many modern cars, the mileage information is stored in the engine control units, transmission or electronics modules. Service specialists can help you access this information. Discovering: Service centers can compare data from different car systems to detect possible mileage between odometer and other data.
When buying a car with a run, it is important to be careful and check all available information. Use all the possibilities to check the documents, the external condition of the car, as well as data from service centers and online logs. This will minimize the risk of fraud and buy a car that matches the stated mileage.
