Buying a used car: the paperwork checklist
Most bad used-car purchases are visible on paper long before anyone opens the bonnet. This is the order we check things in.
Before you travel to see it
- Ask the seller for the vehicle identification number (VIN) and a photo of the registration document. A seller who will not share either is the first warning sign.
- Run the VIN through the history and recall services available where you live. Look for reported theft, write-offs, outstanding finance and odometer readings that go backwards.
- Ask whether a service book or a folder of invoices exists. "It was always serviced at a garage" without paper is worth nothing at resale.
At the viewing
- Compare the VIN on the registration document with the VIN on the car itself - usually behind the windscreen and on a plate in the door frame or under the bonnet.
- Check that the name on the registration document matches the seller's ID. If it does not, find out why before going further: selling for a relative is common, selling a car one does not own is also common.
- Compare the odometer with the mileage written on the last invoices and inspection certificates.
- Ask whether there is any loan or lease secured on the car. In many countries the debt stays with the vehicle, not with the person.
Papers to leave with
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Written sale contract (two signed copies) | Date and time of the handover, price, VIN, plate, both parties' details. It decides who pays a fine issued that afternoon. |
| Registration document | Needed to register the change of owner. Some places split it into parts - make sure you get yours. |
| Every key and key card | Replacement keys are expensive and a missing one is a security question. |
| Service book, invoices, inspection certificate | Proof of maintenance; you will want them when you sell. |
After the handover
Arrange insurance before you drive the car away and register the change of ownership within the deadline your registration authority sets. Until that is done the previous owner may still be on record - which is bad news for both of you.
Rules differ between countries and regions. Treat this as a checklist of questions, and confirm the exact requirements with your local vehicle registration authority.