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Buyer’s guide

Used car pre-purchase checklist

Point by point, what to check before you sign — tick things off online and take the list with you to the viewing.

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Used car pre-purchase checklist — Carnado

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Vehicle basics

Year of manufacture (not just the year of first registration)
Make and model match the listing
Equipment matches the listingsat nav, sunroof, tow bar…
Asking price and the seller’s contact details
Rough part-exchange / buy-back valueif you have a car to trade in

Documents and provenance

Both parts of the registration certificate (large and small) match the carVIN, colour, engine
The seller is the registered owner (or has power of attorney)
Valid roadworthiness test (STK, the Czech MOT) and emissions checkcheck the date and the test report
Service book / invoices with steadily rising mileage
The car isn’t subject to a lien, a lease or a seizure order
For imports: proof of origin and previous registration

History and mileage

VIN checked (history, mileage tampering, accidents)
Mileage matches the wear and the records
No unrepaired accident damage
Manufacturer recalls have been carried out

Bodywork and paint

Paint scratches and scuffs
Dents and chipped areas
Even paint thickness (paint gauge)differences = respray / repair
Even panel gaps around the bonnet, doors and boot lid
Windscreen free of chips and cracksother windows too — same age/brand
Headlights aren’t misted up or yellowed
Valid roadworthiness (STK) sticker on the Czech number plate
No rust on the sills, wheel arches or brake discs

Wheels and tyres

Enough tread depth and even tyre wear
All 4 wheels and tyres matchtype, brand, size, year of manufacture
Rims free of cracks and deformationkerb damage, wobble

Interior and electronics

Seats free of tears and sagging
Wear matches the mileagepedals, steering wheel, driver’s seat
Headliner / upholstery isn’t sagging or stained
Gearbox matches the listing (automatic / manual)
Equipment works: sat nav, air con, infotainment, cameras
No warning lights on the dashboard
No smell of mould / dampleaks, flood damage

Underneath the car

No fluid leaksaround the engine and rear axle / differential
No rust on the exhaust, frame or floor pan
No play in the suspensiontrack rod ends, ball joints, shock absorbers, axle
Frame / structural parts show no accident deformation

Mechanicals and test drive

Cold start without smoke or odd noises
Fluids: level, colour, no leaks
Test drive: brakes, steering, gearbox, suspension
Diesels: condition of the DPF and injectors
EVs/hybrids: battery health (SOH)
Independent diagnostics / inspection by a mechanic

Price and transfer

Price compared with the market across marketplaces
A full written purchase contract
Safe payment and a signed handover confirmation
Agreed change of ownership at the registry office within 10 days (a legal requirement in Czechia)

This is a general baseline — for a specific car, an independent inspection by a mechanic is well worth it. Still looking for a car? Start with our search.

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Buyer’s guide — used car pre-purchase checklist | Carnado