1. Check the papers
- Registration card (Mulkiya): the owner's name should match the seller's Emirates ID, or the seller should have a valid authorisation from the owner.
- VIN match: the VIN on the registration card must match the VIN on the car: at the bottom of the windscreen and on the driver's door pillar. If they don't match, stop there.
- Finance: ask whether the car is still under a bank loan. A financed car can't be transferred until the loan is cleared and the bank releases it.
- Fines: unpaid traffic fines have to be cleared before transfer. Check them with the plate number in the official traffic fines service for that emirate.
2. GCC spec or imported?
Ask directly, and check. GCC-spec cars were built for the Gulf market. Imported cars (often from the US, Canada or Japan) can be perfectly fine, but some arrived after accidents, floods or insurance write-offs. Imports usually sell for less, so the spec should match the price.
Read our full guide: GCC vs US spec cars: what to check.
3. Walk around the car in daylight
- Panel gaps: the gaps between bonnet, wings, doors and boot should be even on both sides.
- Colour and finish: look along the side of the car. A panel that looks slightly different in colour or texture has probably been repainted.
- Overspray: paint on rubber seals, trims, badges or glass edges is a sign of a repaint.
- Lights: one new headlight next to an old, yellowed one often means a front-end repair.
Our guide how to tell if a car was in an accident covers this in detail.
4. Tyres and brakes
- Tread: check the depth across the whole tyre. Wear on only the inside or outside edge points to alignment or suspension problems.
- Age: the last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall show the week and year the tyre was made (for example 2322 = week 23 of 2022). Heat ages rubber fast, so old tyres with plenty of tread can still need replacing.
- Brakes: look through the wheel at the discs. A deep lip on the edge or heavy grooves means discs and pads are due.
5. Under the bonnet and underneath
- Leaks: oil around the engine, wet patches under the car or on the gearbox.
- Fluids: engine oil at the right level and not milky; coolant at the right level and clean.
- A freshly washed engine bay can be innocent, but it can also hide leaks. Be extra careful.
- Underneath: heavy rust, bent or welded chassis rails, and damaged exhaust.
6. Cold start and test drive
Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. Many problems only show on a cold engine.
- Start-up: listen for rattles or knocking, and watch the exhaust. Blue smoke suggests burning oil, thick white smoke that doesn't clear can mean coolant, and black smoke means too much fuel.
- Gearbox: gear changes should be smooth, without jerks, delays or slipping.
- Steering and brakes: the car should drive straight, and braking shouldn't pull to one side or make the steering wheel shake.
- Noises: drive over a few bumps and listen for knocks from the suspension.
7. AC and electrics
- AC: it should blow properly cold within a few minutes, even with the engine idling. In the UAE, a weak AC is an expensive repair you'll notice every day.
- Warning lights: when you switch on the ignition, the dashboard lights should come on briefly and then go off. A light that never comes on at all may have been disabled.
- Everything else: windows, mirrors, central locking, screen, cameras and parking sensors.
8. Service history and mileage
Ask for service records. Dealer-serviced GCC cars can often be checked with the dealer using the VIN. The mileage should make sense for the car's age and condition: a worn steering wheel, pedals and driver's seat on a car showing very low mileage don't add up.
For imported cars, the odometer may originally have been in miles. Make sure the advertised number really is kilometres.
9. Get a professional inspection
This checklist catches a lot, but some things need tools: a paint thickness gauge for every panel, a diagnostic scanner for stored and cleared fault codes, and a proper look underneath. That's what a pre-purchase inspection does, at the seller's location, with a photo report within 1 hour.
Questions, answered.
Should I buy a used car without an inspection?
You can, but you're relying on the seller's word. An inspection costs a small fraction of the car's price and regularly finds faults worth far more, or gives you a reason to negotiate.
What's the most common hidden problem?
Repainted panels from past accidents are the most common finding, followed by worn suspension parts, leaks and stored fault codes.
Check the car before you pay.
We come to the car, inspect 130+ points and send you a photo report on WhatsApp within 1 hour.