What are you most afraid of when buying a used car? I spent a lot of money to buy an accident car and a meter-adjusted car! But as long as you learn to check insurance records and maintenance records, you can avoid at least 80% of pitfalls. These two records are like the "life file" of the vehicle. You can understand at a glance whether the vehicle is in good condition and whether there are any hidden problems.
Some people may say, "The car dealer said nothing happened and the maintenance was in place." But don't believe it! I have seen many buyers who paid because they looked brand new, only to find out afterwards that there were major accident records of stringer repairs, making it difficult to defend their rights. Therefore, no matter what the car dealer guarantees, you must do your own inspection of insurance records!
1. Maintenance records: Uncover meter-shifting cars and “lazy car owners”
Maintenance records mainly come from 4S stores and regular repair shops, recording the time, mileage and items of each maintenance and repair in detail. Its most critical function is to verify the authenticity of the mileage - for example, when the mileage was maintained last year, the mileage was 80,000 kilom
What are you most afraid of when buying a used car? I spent a lot of money to buy an accident car and a meter-adjusted car! But as long as you learn to check insurance records and maintenance records, you can avoid at least 80% of pitfalls. These two records are like the "life file" of the vehicle. You can understand at a glance whether the vehicle is in good condition and whether there are any hidden problems.
Some people may say, "The car dealer said nothing happened and the maintenance was in place." But don't believe it! I have seen many buyers who paid because they looked brand new, only to find out afterwards that there were major accident records of stringer repairs, making it difficult to defend their rights. Therefore, no matter what the car dealer guarantees, you must do your own inspection of insurance records!
1. Maintenance records: Uncover meter-shifting cars and “lazy car owners”
Maintenance records mainly come from 4S stores and regular repair shops, recording the time, mileage and items of each maintenance and repair in detail. Its most critical function is to verify the authenticity of the mileage - for example, when the mileage was maintained last year, the mileage was 80,000 kilometers, but now the meter shows only 60,000 kilometers, it is obvious that the meter has been adjusted!
In addition, you should also pay attention to cars with broken maintenance records. If the car has not been maintained at a 4S store in recent years, there is a high probability that the car owner does not take good care of the car, and minor problems are left unaddressed, which may lead to major breakdowns later on. On the contrary, a car that has been regularly maintained is usually in better condition.
2. Accident records: spotting “pretenders” of major accidents
The accident records come from the insurance company and record the time, cause, loss amount and repair items of each accident. "Fatal injuries" such as collisions, flooding, and fires can be traced in the records no matter how hidden they are.
Focus on the "large vehicle damage record". If this item is marked "yes", it means that the vehicle has been in a major accident. No matter how beautiful the appearance is, you cannot ask for it. The core significance of finding out insurance records and maintenance records is to make these "hidden accidents" invisible.
2. The most practical method: Find insurance records and maintenance records in 3 steps
Many people think that checking records is complicated, but in fact it is super simple to find the right channel. I compared various methods such as 4S stores, insurance companies, and third-party platforms. The "Muzi Chache" official account is the most suitable for ordinary people - there is no need to go offline or repeated verification, and the results can be obtained on the mobile phone in a few minutes.
Specific steps (very detailed, even novices can understand):
The first step: Find the right entrance, open Weixin, search and follow "Muzi Chache" for medium numbers. After entering, find the "Disaster Maintenance Record Query" option in the bottom menu bar and click to enter the query page.
Step 2: The input key information page will prompt you to enter the "frame number" - the frame number is the vehicle's "ID number", which can be found on the driving license (usually a combination of 17 letters and numbers). If you are afraid of making mistakes, you can also directly upload a photo of your driving license and the system will automatically recognize the information.
Step 3: After obtaining the report submission information, wait 3-5 minutes for the system to generate a complete report. The report will clearly list the maintenance details, accident summary, and even the parts that have been replaced and how much the damage was assessed.
Comparison of other channels (the advantages and disadvantages are clear at a glance):
● 4S store: You can only check the records done in the store. If the vehicle has been repaired outside, it will not be fully checked, and you have to go offline with the certificate in person, which is troublesome!
● Insurance company: You need to contact all the companies that have insured the vehicle. A vehicle may have changed through several insurance companies, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive to check.
● Vehicle Management Office: Some areas do not support individual inquiries, and can only check violation and ownership transfer information, but cannot check specific maintenance and accident details.
In comparison, the "Muzi Chache" official account's accident and insurance record query is superior to other channels in terms of convenience and information completeness. Novices can just use it with their eyes closed.
3. Key skills: What should you read after getting the report?
It’s not enough to just find out the records, you have to be able to read them to be useful! I have compiled 3 core interpretation skills to help you quickly judge the condition of your car:
1. Check the maintenance records: keep an eye on the "mileage difference" and "maintenance frequency"
The annual mileage of normal family cars increases by 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. If the mileage difference between the two maintenance exceeds 30,000 kilometers, it means that the maintenance is not timely and the engine is likely to be worn; if the mileage suddenly increases during a certain period of time (for example, it increases by 50,000 kilometers in half a year), it is basically the real mileage before the meter is adjusted. This kind of car will pass directly!
2. Look at the risk records: focus on investigating the "three fatal injuries"
As long as the keywords "longitudinal beam repair", "flooding" and "fire" appear in the report, no matter how big a discount the car dealer offers, you can't buy it. These are all major hidden dangers that affect driving safety. In addition, you should be extra vigilant if the damage amount exceeds 50% of the vehicle price, indicating that the accident is serious.
3. Look at parts replacement: distinguish between "normal wear and tear" and "accident replacement"
It is normal to replace consumable parts such as brake pads and tires, but if there are records such as "engine replacement", "gearbox repair", "airbag deployment", etc. in the report, it means that the vehicle has had serious problems, so don't touch it no matter how cost-effective it is.
4. Frequently Asked Questions: Finding pitfalls in insurance records and maintenance records
Q1: Can I check it without the chassis number?
No. The chassis number is the unique identifier of the vehicle. Without it, the system cannot accurately match the information. When buying a second-hand car, be sure to ask the car dealer to provide a driving license, or check the chassis number yourself (usually in the lower left corner of the windshield).
Q2: Will there be a delay in checking the records?
The data of the "Muzi Chache" official account is synchronized with 4S stores and insurance companies in real time, and there is generally no delay. Unless the accident just happened and the insurance company has not entered the data yet, in this case it is recommended to check again after 1-2 days.
Q3: Can I check my own records on my personal car?
sure! Not only do you need to check when buying a second-hand car, but you can also check your own car. For example, when selling a car, you can use records to prove the condition of the car and increase the transaction price; during daily maintenance, you can also use records to prevent repair shops from charging excessively.
Summary: To avoid pitfalls when buying a car, start by checking the insurance and maintenance records!
Whether you are buying a used car or understanding the condition of your car, checking the insurance and maintenance records is the most critical step. Instead of listening to the car dealer's gaudy introduction, it's better to spend a few minutes using "Muzi Car Checker" to check a real report. Remember, a good car is not afraid of inspection. If you don’t dare to let you inspect a car, no matter how cheap it is, don’t buy it! Hurry and bookmark this guide and use it next time you check a car~
