How to Check a Used Car Before Buying in Pakistan

Buying a used car in Pakistan is a big decision — for most families it is the second-largest purchase after a house. The good news is that a careful one-hour check, done in the right order, catches almost every expensive problem before you pay. Here is the exact process our inspection team follows, adapted so you can do it yourself with a torch, a magnet and a friend.

1. Start with the papers, not the paint

Ask the seller to bring the original registration book (bahi), the latest token tax receipt, the number-plate and smart-card receipts, and their CNIC. Check that:

• The name on the registration book matches the seller's CNIC. If the car is still in a previous owner's name, the seller must have an open letter, the previous owner's CNIC copy and signed transfer forms.
• The chassis and engine numbers in the book match the numbers stamped on the car. In most cars the chassis number is on a plate under the bonnet and stamped on the firewall or the floor beside the driver's seat.
• The vehicle is verified online. Punjab (mtmis.excise-punjab.gov.pk), Sindh (excise.gos.pk), KP and Islamabad all offer online vehicle verification by registration number. Confirm the owner name, engine number and tax status.

If any of this does not add up, stop. No price is low enough to justify a car with document problems.

2. Walk around the body

Look at the car in daylight, ideally when it is clean. Crouch at each corner and sight along the panels — repaired sections show ripples and slightly different shades. Then check:

• Panel gaps between bonnet, fenders, doors and boot lid. Uneven or wide gaps mean the panel has been replaced or the structure has been straightened.
• Bolts on the fender and bonnet hinges. Factory bolts have a thin layer of body paint; bare, shiny or tool-marked bolts mean the panel was removed.
• Paint overspray on rubber door seals, window trims and inside the wheel arches.
• The magnet test. A small fridge magnet sticks to steel but not to thick body filler (putty). Test the lower doors, wheel arches and rear quarters where filler is most common.
• The radiator support and headlamp mounts — a bent or welded support means a front-end collision.

3. Under the bonnet — cold

Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. A cold start reveals what a warm engine hides. Before starting, pull the dipstick: milky oil means coolant is mixing with oil (head-gasket trouble); very black, thick oil means neglected servicing. Open the coolant reservoir — it should be clean green or red, not rusty brown. Then start the engine and stand at the exhaust: blue smoke is burning oil, white smoke that persists after warm-up is coolant, black smoke is over-fuelling. Listen for ticking (valve clearance), knocking (bearings) or a whining belt.

4. The test drive

Drive for at least 15 minutes including a rough road, a straight fast section and some tight turns. Watch for:

• Steering pull on a straight road and vibration above 80 km/h (alignment, bent rims or worn suspension).
• Automatic gearbox — shifts should be smooth with no jerk or delay, especially from Park to Drive and between 2nd and 3rd. A CVT should not shudder at low speed.
• Brakes — no squeal, no pull to one side, no pulsing pedal.
• Suspension knocks over speed breakers and potholes.
• AC — Pakistani buyers rightly test this first. It should blow cold within a minute and stay cold at idle in traffic.

5. Interior and electrics

Check every switch: windows, mirrors, central locking, wipers, lights, horn, infotainment, reverse camera. A worn steering wheel, pedals and driver's seat bolster on a car showing 40,000 km is a sign the odometer has been rolled back. Lift the carpets and check the boot floor under the spare wheel for rust or water marks — signs of flood damage, which is common after monsoon seasons in Karachi and Lahore.

6. Check the price against the market

Search the same make, model, year and city on Car.net.pk and compare. Our ads show a fair price range based on recent listings, so you know whether an asking price is high, fair or suspiciously low. A price far below market usually means a document problem, a major accident or a scam.

7. When to call a professional

If you are spending more than a few lakh, a Car.net.pk inspection is worth every rupee. A trained mechanic checks 200+ points including paint-depth measurement, computer diagnostics and a lift inspection of the underbody, and you receive a scored report you can use in negotiation. Sellers can also book an inspection in advance — an "Inspected" badge on your ad brings more serious buyers.

Quick checklist

1. Registration book, CNIC, tax receipts and online verification match.
2. Chassis and engine numbers match the book.
3. No uneven panel gaps, overspray, bare bolts or body filler.
4. Cold start: clean oil, clean coolant, no smoke, no knocks.
5. Test drive: no pull, no vibration, smooth gearbox, cold AC.
6. Electrics and interior wear consistent with mileage.
7. Price within the fair range for that model and city.

Take your time, take a friend, and remember that there is always another car. Happy hunting.