First Time Traveller In India?

What are some of the things a first-time buyer of a second-hand (used) car in India should know?

• I'm planning to buy a pre-owned (or second-hand or used) car in Mumbai, India. I have never brought a car and am buying a used car so that me and my family can learn how to drive. What are some of the things that I should know about buying a second-hand car in India (especially Mumbai)? What are the rules with regards to documentation/papers (esp in India)? What should I take care when checking it before buying? Do used cars in India give trouble by breaking down a lot? How to know for sure which will be good one and which ones should I not buy? What is the ideal price range for such pre-owned (or used) cars that are used as a 'learner' car (my budget is around INR 60k)? Please help me out. I am sure many Quorans would have a lot of knowledge and this would really help many people like me, who would be first time buyers of second-hand cars. Thanks.

• Answer:

  There are lot of things that you should consider while buying a used car : 1. Always check for all the original papers(RC book, Insurance Papers, Original Owners Manual, Tax Receipt, Service history) before proceeding. 2. Check for the IDV value of the car as mentioned in the Insurance papers. this will give you a close enough idea about the value of the car. 3. Check sites like http://carwale.com to get an idea about the going rates for used cars. Although, I have found that the prices that they mention are slightly lower then the actual market rate, at least that was the case in Bangalore. 4. Get the car test driven by a friend/relative who knows more than you. Or if possible ask any mechanic from your local garage to take a look at the car and engine. 5. Check the engine area for any structural damages and oil leaks. You can know if the car is involved in an accident if there are any parts welded or if you see any color difference. 6. Call up the insurance company to cross verify if the vehicle was involved in any major accidents, minor accidents which doesn't result in any structural damage are ok if the price is right. 7. check the condition of all 4 tires and spare. Normally they have year of manufacture written over them. Most tires are good for only 25-30k kilometers. so if they are older then that then consider this also while negotiating price. 8. Check if the Battery is replaced by the owner recently or not. If yes, ask for warranty card. Automobiles batteries these days can last upto 4-5 years and then need replacement and mind you they don't come cheap. 9. Never go for a vehicle which is out of state registered. There are chances that it might be stolen and paperwork forged. 10. When buying a used car, don't go for vehicles which are out of production or heavily modified because finding parts for them could be a big headache later. 11. See if the seller is the first owner of the car or not. generally more the number of previous owners of the car less the price. The Used car if not maintained well can give you troubles. but if you take care of above all points then you should be able to find a good car. You can also look for cars from used car dealers.  All big automobile companies in India have used car showrooms too like Maruti true value, Mahindra first choice, Toyota U something...These dealers may charge between 10-15% premium but there cars are certified by them and they provide warranty also for the cars. This will give you complete peace of mind. Once you are satisfied with the car do the paperwork. This includes getting form 29 and 30 from the seller. You can buy these forms from any stationary shop. Take these papers to any good RTO agent and he will do the rest for a nominal fee. You can also do this yourself by approaching the concerned RTO yourself but this may take some time and effort on your part. You can only get some early 2000s model zen or maruti 800 for 60k.