Buying a Used Car in India: What to Check Before You Pay

Under the bonnet and underneath

You do not need to be a mechanic to spot trouble.

1. Oil and coolant: Milky oil under the cap or coolant in the oil can indicate a serious head-gasket problem. Walk away from those.
2. Leaks: Look for fresh oil or coolant on the engine and on the ground where it was parked.
3. Belts and hoses: Cracked, frayed belts and brittle hoses are cheap to replace but signal neglect.
4. Battery: Heavy white corrosion on the terminals hints at an ageing battery.
5. Exhaust smoke on start-up: Blue smoke means oil burning; thick white smoke that lingers can mean coolant burning. A puff of vapour on a cold morning is normal.

The test drive: what to feel and hear

Insist on a proper drive of at least 15-20 minutes covering a mix of speeds.

• Cold start: It should fire up cleanly without prolonged cranking or rough idling.
• Steering: Should be straight and vibration-free; pulling to one side means alignment or suspension issues.
• Brakes: Should stop straight with no juddering, squealing or grinding.
• Gearbox: Smooth shifts in a manual; no jerks or slipping in an automatic.
• Suspension: Drive over a rough patch — clunks and rattles point to worn bushes or shockers.
• AC: Should cool quickly and strongly; weak cooling can be an expensive fix.

Switch off the radio and just listen. Unusual ticking, knocking or whining is worth pausing the deal to investigate.