Buying a used car from a private individual or a dealer is very simple, but are we sure we won't fall into a scam or simply discover some nasty surprises later on?
It was once said "Would you buy a used car from this man?" when the "man" in question did not have a great reputation for honesty.
Well, yes, you can, but trying at least to follow the useful advice that the ACI gives, through the pages of its website, to those who are preparing to buy.
"Verifications to the Public Register of Automobiles (PRA)
Before giving your consent to the purchase of a vehicle and pay the agreed amount to the seller, you should request a "check", indicating the plate of the vehicle you want to buy, the provincial office ACI - Public Automobile Registry (PRA) or through the online checkout service, to know the legal and patrimonial information about the vehicle, resulting at that time, and in particular for:
1) verify that no mortgages are registered on the vehicle (the mortgage allows the creditor to sell the vehicle at auction to satisfy the credit)
2) check that there are no constraints on the vehicle that limit its availability: seizures, attachments, bankruptcies, administrative closures
3) Check that the vehicle has not been removed from the PRA, especially if the vehicle has been registered for many years, e.g. if the vehicle has not been registered for more than one year. in the case of a historic vehicle (a vehicle cancelled from the PRA cannot circulate on the road, therefore, if the vehicle has been cancelled from the PRA, it will be necessary to request a new registration to a provincial office of Civil Motorization (UMC) which will be released only if the vehicle complies with the regulations in force on pollutant emissions and safety systems; once re-registration has been obtained, with the issue of new plates, registration with the PRA will have to be requested, proceeding in the usual way, bearing a stamp of Euro 16.00 to be affixed on the deed at the time of authentication of the signature).
Anti-theft unlocking
If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device that can only be unlocked with coded keys or a radio protected by a code, when the vehicle is collected it is advisable to check that all the keys are handed over (sometimes there is a master key, which is the only one that can create duplicates if the others are lost), as well as any cards or cards that show the activation or deactivation codes of the equipment. Their absence could create inconvenience in case of emergency or require high costs for duplication, thus decreasing the value of the vehicle.
Checking the chassis
It is advisable to always check the chassis number of the vehicle in the engine compartment (sometimes the chassis is also visible on the windscreen of the car, on the door pillar or at other points inside the vehicle), to verify its correspondence with the chassis number shown on the vehicle registration card (letter E) and on the Certificate of Ownership (under FRAME). Particular attention must be paid if the seller is in possession of a duplicate of the vehicle documents (Passenger Name Record and Certificate of Ownership).
Warranty coupons
If the vehicle is relatively new, it is advisable to request the delivery of the booklet with the warranty coupons already performed. The booklet represents the "medical record" of the vehicle and from the data it contains you can obtain more information on the kilometres actually travelled.
Owner's and maintenance manual
It is recommended to ask the seller for the "manual of use and maintenance". Without the information contained in the booklet, you may not be able to carry out some maintenance operations immediately or take precautions when using those devices that ensure the safety, economy of operation and storage of the vehicle. Asking for it later from the manufacturer could be a long and expensive operation.
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