Buying a three-euro gadget to get us home comfortably is not the same as spending thousands on a vehicle. Obviously, the second case is much more delicate and the risks we run increase considerably. It is true that most second-hand stores to buy a car already offer us their own website.
Here we find a wide range of vehicles available at that moment with their corresponding specifications. Furthermore, as a rule we see a series of images of it, both from the outside and the inside, or at least that’s how it should be. However, all of this does not guarantee that the car we are visiting is in good condition. More so if we make the purchase from an individual in platforms like WallapopFor example.
However, this should be extended to both individuals and second-hand vehicle stores. Therefore, in these lines we are going to show you a series of previous steps that you should take to avoid scams in these important online purchases. It may also be the case that we have just approved our license, and we are going to buy our first car.
Steps prior to purchasing a car online
These types of purchases are usually substantial in terms of the price we pay. Normally, we talk about several thousands of euros that we paid for the vehicle, so a possible scam can lead to considerable displeasure and trouble. Hence the previous measures that we should take and which we will leave behind below.
Request the vehicle report from the DGT. Although there are several websites that provide us with this information, the best thing we can do is request it directly from the General Directorate of Traffic. In this way we will obtain important information about the car we are going to purchase, such as pending fines, whether it is up to date with its tax payments, even possible major damage it may have had. We have the possibility of request a detailed or reduced report. The second is free, while the detailed report costs around 9 euros and you can order it from here.
Check your history. There are companies that provide us with a detailed history of the car so that we can get an idea of the life it has had. This can be of enormous help to us to know if it has been stopped for a long time or has had a major accident. One of the best-known companies is Carfax, a history that we can request through this website.
Do a previous review in a workshop. In most cases when we purchase a vehicle through the Internet we are not professional mechanics. Hence, before paying the cost, tell us what the previous owners tell us, it will always be interesting take the car to a trusted workshop to do a general check.
Make the ownership change at that time. This becomes especially important in the event that we make the purchase through an individual who advertises on an online platform. Before making the payment as such, we should go to an agency or directly to a Traffic office to make the change of ownership at that moment. This is a procedure that we should never leave for later and thus avoid risks.