How to Check if a Car is New or Used?
3 Answers
Methods to distinguish between new and used cars are as follows: 1. Inspect the exterior: 1. Check if the body paint color is consistent and if the surface curvature on both sides is smooth. View the paint reflection at a 30° to 45° angle to see if it is uniform. If there are discrepancies, the car has definitely been repaired, and the repair quality is poor. 2. Place the car on level ground and stand 3 to 5 meters directly in front of it to observe if the shoulder height is the same on both sides. If not, it indicates that the body frame has been repaired or the suspension and shock absorbers have not been properly fixed. 3. Observe if the gaps between the engine hood and the fenders are even; check if the door edge gaps are consistent; inspect if the gaps around the headlights and taillights are uniform and if their condition matches. 2. Inspect the interior: 1. Check if the seats and upholstery are clean and tidy, and if they have been replaced or disassembled. Verify if the built-in headrests and accessories are complete. Test all switches to ensure they function smoothly and without issues. If the dealer has refurbished the seats and interior, be extra cautious, as the car may have significant problems. 2. Before starting the car, turn the ignition key and observe if the dashboard lights display normally without any missing indicators. Most modern fuel-injected cars have a fault warning light feature. All indicator lights should illuminate when the key is turned. If any light fails to turn on, the owner may have intentionally removed the bulb to hide a fault. 3. Test drive: 1. When starting, check if the engine starts easily, based on your driving experience. If the starting sound is heavy, it may indicate issues with the starter motor, battery, or related mechanical parts. 2. After starting, first check if the steering wheel (power-assisted) has consistent resistance when turning left and right and if the turning angle is reasonable. When making a turn or U-turn, observe if the front wheels rub against the tires when the steering wheel is fully turned. If so, the car may have been in an accident, and tire rubbing against the wheel line can pose a safety hazard.
I've been running an auto repair shop for ten years, and checking if a car is first-hand is quite simple. Just bring your ID card and vehicle license to the DMV to check the records—their system clearly logs the number of ownership transfers. However, most people find it easiest to directly check the 'Big Green Book,' which is the green-covered registration certificate. Flip to the second page and look at the transfer registration section—if it's completely empty, then it's a first-hand car. The registration certificate has a section for the number of transfer registrations, and whatever number is written there indicates how many times the car has changed hands. Last time, my neighbor was scammed when buying a car—it looked brand new, but upon checking the registration certificate, the transfer registration section was completely filled in, a typical fifth-hand car. Nowadays, you can also check via mobile apps—just enter the VIN and pay a few dozen yuan to get a report, which even shows accident records.
I've been selling used cars for seven or eight years, and determining whether a car is first-hand relies on the registration certificate plus observation. Flip to the second page of the big green registration book, the transfer registration section—if there are records, it's a used car. Be cautious about odometer-tampered cars when buying used vehicles; some have their mileage rolled back to appear newer. Once, I encountered a car that seemed first-hand on the surface, but the registration certificate showed two transfer records, and the owner pretended to be clueless, claiming he was the only driver. I usually also check details like the wear on the steering wheel and accelerator pedal—first-hand owners tend to have consistent usage. If the issue date on the vehicle license doesn't match the registration date, it indicates a re-issuance due to ownership transfer. Finally, I recommend checking the maintenance records at a 4S dealership—it's especially accurate.
