Buying a used car: the checks that actually protect you

Step one: the free history report

Before you drive anywhere, ask the seller for a HistoVec link. It is the French Interior Ministry's free service, generated by the owner from the registration document, and it lists previous owners, recorded mileage, roadworthiness tests, administrative status and accidents declared to insurers.

Its limits matter as much as its content. As Certicar points out, the report does not show the current mechanical condition, the maintenance history, or bodywork repaired without an insurance claim. A clean report is a good sign, not a guarantee.

Step two: the service history

This is where most of the real risk sits, and it is the part sellers gloss over.

Ask three questions and listen to how they are answered:

1. When was the timing belt done, and where is the invoice? On many engines this is a four-figure repair if it is skipped — see our timing belt guide.
2. When was the last oil change, at what mileage? Compare it with the manufacturer's interval rather than with a vague "it's recent".
3. Can I see the last roadworthiness report? The listed minor faults tell you what the next owner will be paying for.

"It's all been done, trust me" with no paperwork is an answer: it means the maintenance cannot be proven, and the price should reflect that.

Step three: the car itself

• Cold start. Ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive. Many faults only show on a cold start.
• Tyres. Mismatched brands or uneven wear across an axle suggest deferred maintenance or alignment problems.
• Fluids. Milky oil cap, coolant level, any fresh leak under the car after the test drive.
• Electronics. Every warning light should come on with the ignition and go out after the start. A light that never comes on may have been disconnected.
• Test drive. Include a stretch above 90 km/h, hard braking on a clear road, full lock both ways at low speed, and reverse.

Step four: make the history part of the deal

A documented car sells for more, and buyers know it: a vehicle presented with a complete file typically fetches noticeably more than an identical one with no proof, according to Odopass.

Once you own the car, that documentation becomes yours to maintain. Autofy keeps the invoices, dates and mileages attached to the vehicle from day one, so the next time the question comes up, you are the seller with proof.

Frequently asked questions

Is the HistoVec report enough to buy safely? No. It only shows administrative data and accidents declared to insurers. Mechanical condition, service history and undeclared repairs are invisible in it.

What if the seller has no service book? Ask for the invoices instead. A chronological stack of detailed invoices is worth as much as a stamped book, and a car with no proof at all justifies a lower price.

Which service items matter most on a used car? The timing belt, because a missed replacement can destroy the engine, then the oil change history and the last roadworthiness test with its listed faults.