Used Car Buyer Tips: Things To Look Out For During A Vehicle Handover

Like in most markets, buying a car often comes with more admin than we’re prepared to deal with. Arranging for test drives, negotiations, insurance and loan applications - ignoring any one of these steps would have hindered your dream car purchase. And just when we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, preparing for vehicle handover day (as a buyer) can come with its own obstacles.

Sure, we might argue that the car seller should bear most responsibilities during a vehicle handover. But as a used car buyer, the onus is still on us to ensure each process leading up to the actual transfer is error free. Vehicle handover is the final step before the entire process reaches its conclusion, so without throwing any spanner in the works, this internal QnA / checklist should ease some anxiety!

Are there any new damages to the vehicle since the last time I saw it?

Dents and scratches reported during the negotiation stage - that should be all you notice during the handover. Any new scratches should be resolved by the seller.

Are all the keys working?

Assuming that the used car you’ve purchased comes with two sets of keys, test both out and if they are proximity sensing keys, attempt to open the doors with the keys of varying distance from the car.

What is the car’s mileage?

The car’s mileage should reflect what’s being agreed on, as the time between seal the deal and handover day could be long enough for the seller to clock considerable mileage.

Is there a spare tyre / tyre repair kit?

It’s good not to assume that it's in the car, because it’s not difficult for the seller to remove and sell it for a tidy fee. That’s also assuming if your agreement with the buyer comes with one.

Do I know how to fill up the car?

We often take this for granted, but fuel flap levers of some cars are not easy to locate (possibly due to left / right hand drive conversions from the factory). Save some time and ask the seller to demonstrate. The same goes for EVs - some buttons might be hidden from plain sight for the sake of aesthetics.

How much fuel is in the tank?

If you’ve bought an Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, this doesn’t sound like a big issue but some car sellers (not all!) might drain whatever’s left in the tank, leaving your new acquisition deprived of fuel. That sounds like a stretch, but never assume that it has sufficient fuel to reach the nearest kiosk!

Did the seller throw in any “free” packages?

Car servicing (or even car detailing) packages can be a common handover item as part of the deal, so ensure that you have these sorted.

Are there any pending repairs?

There could be an instance where you can drive the car but repair a minor scruff at a later date, so ensure that you have the workshop’s contact and firm up the transaction processes with the seller (Eg: payment mode).

Where is the car’s handbook?

Well, how often do we use it? All we know is that it can sometimes save plenty of time compared to finding information from the internet, as this handbook is specific to your car. Online facts could lead to the same car but built in a different market. The old school approach works sometimes…

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Browse Carousell Certified used cars here or if you need help with any part of the car-buying process, check out Carousell’s Car Buying Personal Assistant!