How to Avoid Pitfalls and Easily Choose a Used Car！

I. "First Owner" – Are You the Second True Owner?

"First owner" – undoubtedly, the fewer times a used car has changed hands, the fewer times it has been handled, and the simpler the story behind it. Therefore, many customers are very concerned about the number of ownership changes when buying a car, and some even only buy used cars with a first owner.

How to identify it? It's simple, just look at the "green book" (owner's certificate). A car with a first owner usually has at least two owners listed on the green book: the first owner's name on the first page, and the second owner's name, usually temporarily held by the car dealer. This can be a company account or an individual account; you can deduce the dealer's ownership by looking at the name and holding period.

II. Zero Accident Records + Zero Repair Records

These two reports are crucial for judging the condition of a used car: the "Accident Record" and the "Repair Record," both provided by third-party agencies based on big data. Once you have the VIN, you can check it yourself for a fee. Of course, car dealerships are usually long-term members and have these reports too; just ask the dealer. If they refuse, be wary.

The Accident Record includes information about the car's past accidents, claim amounts, and repair/replacement parts. Undoubtedly, a car with zero accidents is generally in better condition and more secure, commonly known as a "zero-accident" car. However, there are exceptions. If repairs weren't claimed through insurance or were the other party's fault, these won't be found in the Accident Record. In this case, refer to the second report, the Repair Record.

The Repair Record includes all the car's maintenance, recalls, claims, and repairs. From the Repair Record, you can learn many details about the car's past, even including information not found in the Accident Record. It's more detailed than the Accident Record, but it doesn't completely cover it. The items available in the "Repair Record" are based on the repair shop uploading detailed repair information to the system for each repair. This is typically done by 4S dealerships and larger, more reputable repair shops, but most roadside quick repair shops do not. Therefore, the "Repair Record" is not absolutely complete. However, if the "Repair Record" only contains routine maintenance information and no repair-related items, and all procedures were completed at the 4S dealership, then this record is considered relatively ideal.

III. "3 Major Components OK" - "Engine, Transmission, Suspension" or "Motor, Intelligence"

"3 Major Components OK" refers to the three major components of a gasoline car: engine, transmission, and suspension (referred to as "Gasoline 3"); and the three major components of an electric car: battery, motor, and intelligence (referred to as "Electric 3").

Key points for "Gasoline 3": Leaking seals? Engine oil consumption? Transmission jerking? Loose chassis with abnormal noises? Aging and cracking rubber parts? Severe pulling to one side while driving straight? Steering system resonance? etc.

Key points for "Electric 3": Battery health is the most frequently asked question by customers inquiring about used electric vehicles, bar none. Some brands can read data on the voltage synchronization of each cell in the battery pack, but most brands keep this data confidential, and car dealers cannot access it. Therefore, battery health can only be indirectly assessed by considering factors like mileage and the previous owner's charging habits. In reality, the durability of electric vehicle batteries far exceeds our expectations, and battery degradation is much less severe than we worry about.

As for the motor, there's not much to worry about; its overall reliability and stability are higher. If the used electric vehicle has high mileage, check for records of regular motor oil changes—it's better to have them than not.

IV. Original Version, Original Paint, Original Lights, Original Glass, Original Tires

"Original version" means the vehicle is a stock car without any modifications. It's recommended to buy a stock car whenever possible, especially for performance-oriented used cars, as stock cars are hard to find.

"Original paint" is simple: all metallic surfaces with original paint. Of course, if the front and rear bumpers can also be confirmed to be original paint, that's even better. Original paint may indicate a truly zero-accident record, which is more credible than a "zero-accident record."

"Original headlights" and "original glass" can be used to determine if a car is original by checking the manufacturing dates on the headlights and glass. It's very difficult to find headlights and glass with manufacturing dates before the vehicle's production date if they've been replaced. Original headlights indicate that the two front corners of the car are basically intact. Original glass indicates better water and air tightness and that it hasn't suffered damage from high-speed stone impacts or falling objects.

"Original tires" can be identified by checking the manufacturing dates of all four tires. If they are earlier than the production date and largely consistent, they can be considered original tires. What does it mean to have original tires? It could mean: a very low probability of a tampered odometer; it could mean that the previous driver rarely rubbed the tires while parallel parking, resulting in less hidden damage to the suspension; it could mean the previous driver had a gentle driving style that didn't wear down the tires; it could mean the previous driver drove on good roads that didn't wear down the tires.

Therefore, finding a car with all five "original" characteristics ("5 originals") indicates a very high probability of being in excellent condition. If you are looking for a used car in China, please contact us; we will provide you with high-quality used cars.