Check if the oil level is adequate. Does the car start immediately when you turn the key? Observe if there are any unusual noises coming from the engine bay. Check for any oil leaks from the engine head gasket. After this, open the engine oil filler cap, place your hand over it, and see if oil is splashing out or if gases are escaping forcefully.
If there is excessive oil and gas blowing out, the car likely requires a block piston overhaul. If everything seems fine, check the RPM meter on the cabin dashboard while the car is idling. For a petrol car, the gauge should rest around 1000 RPM, and for a diesel car, it should be between 750 and 900 RPM. If the needle fluctuates up and down, there could be an issue with the engine's timing belt, injectors, or sensors, which indicates an expensive repair. Additionally, all modern cars have an ECU (Engine Control Module). If there is a problem with the fuel-air mixture or any other engine component, the Engine Check Lamp will turn on. In such cases, it is best to get the car checked with an OBD engine scanner.
1000 RPM आणि डिझेल असेल तर 750 ते 900 RPM वर गेज आहे का पहा जर ते खाली वर होत असेल तर इंजिन च्या टाईमिंग बेल्ट किंवा इंजेक्टर किंवा सेन्सर मध्ये प्रॉब्लेम असू शकतो, म्हणजे खर्चाच काम आहे तसेच आता सर्व गाड्या मध्ये ECU (इंजिन कंट्रोल मोड्युल) असतोच जर इंजिन मध्ये फ्युएल एअर मिक्शर किंवा इतर काय इंजिन ची समस्या असेल तर इंजिन चेक लॅम्प लागतो जर असे असेल तर इंजिन स्कॅनर ने चेक केलेले उत्तम
Clutch Plate
Next, let's look at how to check the clutch. A common method is to put the car in 1st gear and press the accelerator. If you release the clutch and suddenly hit the brakes, the car should stall immediately. If it takes a little while for the car to stall, the clutch plate is on its way out. Another method is to observe the RPMs while driving; if the RPM increases when you accelerate but the car's speed doesn't increase proportionately, it is a clear sign of a worn clutch plate.
Gearbox
When inspecting the gearbox, the gears should shift smoothly and easily without making any grinding noises. There shouldn't be excessive play or gap between the gears in the gear shifter.
Body Damage
It is also important to lift the car's floor mats and see if the metal floor pan is rusted or rotting. Stand at the rear corner of the car and look straight ahead along the side profile; this will help you see if all the body panels are perfectly aligned in a straight line. Furthermore, when the doors are closed, check from the outside if there are uneven or excessive panel gaps between the doors and the A and B pillars.
Open the bonnet and inspect the shocker (strut) mounts to see if any aftermarket welding has been done. If the car was involved in a frontal collision, the shocker mounts often shift out of place, creating a large gap that has to be repaired with welding. Therefore, carefully inspect both the front and rear shocker mounts. If you gently knock on various spots of every body panel with your knuckles (like knocking on a door), the sound will help you figure out if the panel has been repainted or heavily filled with body putty.
Wheels & Tires
When inspecting the wheels and tires, first check the tire tread. The wear should be even across the surface. If a tire is excessively worn out on one side and it is a body-on-frame vehicle (like an Innova, older Scorpio, or Xylo), there could be underlying chassis damage. However, this issue can also simply be caused by bad wheel alignment or balancing. You should also thoroughly check the alloy wheels for any cracks.
Interior
When checking the interior, it is crucial to verify if the seat covers are in good condition and if all dashboard controls are functioning. Is the air conditioner cooling the cabin? Equally important—is the heater blowing hot air?
Many buyers check the AC but completely forget about the heater. If the heater core isn't working, the entire dashboard usually has to be removed to fix it, which is a highly expensive and time-consuming job. Therefore, ensuring the heater works is a must. Check if the seats adjust properly (forward, backward, up, and down), especially if they are electrically adjustable. If the Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs) are electronic, test all their adjustment angles.
Make sure the door handles work and the window glasses roll up and down smoothly. Since almost all modern cars come equipped with power windows, power locks, and various sensors, fixing these electronic issues can sometimes be difficult. Parts might be hard to source, wiring could be damaged, and if the electrical fault is buried deep under the dashboard, it is hard to estimate if it can be fixed easily or how much it will cost. That's why inspecting everything beforehand is always the smart move.
Documents
Even if the car is mechanically sound, its documents must be legally clear. Motor vehicle regulations are becoming extremely strict and increasingly digitalized. Because of this, the RTO and traffic authorities can access vehicle information with just a few clicks.
You must check the RC Book to ensure it is registered in the seller's name. If you are buying the car through a broker, ensure they are trustworthy, transparent, and experienced. Verify that the car's Insurance and PUC (Pollution Under Control)
You can visit the Indian Government's Parivahan website (
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