When you buy a used car in India.

What should you be aware of when buying a used car in India.

1. Stolen vehicles. You should be aware that stolen vehicles are sold off in the used car market. Take the following steps to exclude this possibility.
1. Verify the engine number and the chassis number of the vehicle. Take the pain to read them from the vehicle itself. You should find these inscribed onto the metal in the engine compartment (bonnet). But know that this is not a confirmatory test. These inscriptions could very well be faked.
2. Verify from the transport office records that the car is not a stolen one. Don't trust the registration certificate for this. It could be fake. You may use the national database of stolen vehicles for this. But bear in mind that the database may not be complete or up to date.
3. Always be extra careful in case of cars from other states. Also be careful in case of re-registrations.
2. Sale following a hit: With the help of an experienced mechanic, check the body for some recognizable patch work, welds in the chassis (under the body), partial or complete repainting, or collective  replacement of parts in a particular area. These may indicate covered-up damages from a hit (accident).
3. Distance covered.
1. Do not trust the odometer for the total distance covered. Whether analogue or digital, it could be rigged.
2. Do not take the tyre condition granted for the distance even for comparatively new cars.
3. Do not buy cars that has covered more than 80000 kilometres. Parts of the engine like the piston, and parts of the clutch and gear box components wear out at this stage wanting replacement and calling for huge expenditure.
4. Mileage: If possible, try an actual test of the mileage. Cars are sometimes sold when they don't give the normal mileage for the model. This may happen for a few pieces in every batch owing to manufacturing errors (what we call manufacturing defects). It is also possible that the mileage be affected due to excessive wear and tear owing to bad driving practices as well as lack of proper maintenance (like periodic oil changes).
5. Availability of spares. While buying models that are too old, verify that spares are still available.
6. LPG conversion. Do not buy LPG converted vehicles if they are not legally endorsed. If the conversion is legally registered, you could find the info on the registration certificate. If the data is not recorded in the registration certificate, the car will fall out of insurance cover.  Give preference to manufacturer fitted LPG equipment.
7. Loan: See the registration certificate and ensure that the car is not tied with any loans. If it does, verify the details from the financier.
8. Verify service records. For cars that are only a few years old, verify the service records with the manufacturer. If a well maintained car, the records should indicate it.
9. Price:
1. While deciding on a price, consider the value of the brand and model (in the used market), consider factors such as age of the vehicle, distance covered, condition of parts such as the tyres and the battery, and maintenance history. It would be advisable to get help from an expert.
2. While deciding a fair price, do not be taken away by some fancy 'extra fittings' like wheel cups, and seat covers.
10. Do change the ownership legally. Once you buy the car, have the change in the ownership legally recorded (consult your local transport office for this). As well as in selling one, this is crucial in protecting your status before the law in case of any probability of the vehicle been involved in a crime in the past.