1. Ask the seller why he is selling the car. If the seller is leaving Qatar for good, chances are that you will get a well-maintained car. And if the seller is the first owner, bravo you may be in for some good luck!
2. While the car is at a in a stationary state, turn the steering wheel completely to the left and then begin to slowly turn the car. If you hear a noise emanating from the right front wheel side, the right axle and the rubber boot need replacement. Repeat the same thing by turning your car to the right side keeping your ears open for any noise from the left front wheel.
3. Check the odometer. If the odometer has clocked say 150,000+ kms for a sedan car, it is asking for maintenance.
4. Check the condition of the tyres. Brand new tyres easily give you 100,000 kms especially if they are of a good brand such as Yokohama, Michellan, GoodYear etc. Compare it with the odometer reading. I went to buy a car where the odometer read 47000 km but the owner had replaced all the tyres and all of them were of different brands. Surely, the odometer had been doctored. A new car always has all four tyres of the same brand and the wear out is almost the same on all tyres. .
5. Avoid buying a car that has been used as a taxi.
6. There are two types of insurance available in Qatar for vehicles.They are the 3rd Party insurance and the Comprehensive insurance. 3rd Party insurance is mandatory for all cars as per local laws and the car istimara will not get renewed in its absence. Many people do not know the difference between the two. In the 3rd party insurance cover, the insurance company will repair the damages and settle the claim of the owner if your car has landed up in an accident with another car and if the police report says you were at fault. Under Comprehensive Insurance cover, your car and its passengers along with the car of the other party and its passengers is covered should there be an accident and injuries take place even if the police report says the fault was yours. Most insurance companies in Qatar avoid providing Comprehensive Insurance cover to car which are more than 3 years old but some of them are flexible and allow up to 5 years old cars depending on the condition of the car.
7. Avoid buying a second-hand car from dealers. They just take one from a seller and hand it over to you with their mark up'
8. Remember, buying a second-hand car is almost always a "blind buy". You may be required to spend say around QR 1000 to bring it up to your level of satisfaction.
1. Ask the seller why he is selling the car. If the seller is leaving Qatar for good, chances are that you will get a well-maintained car. And if the seller is the first owner, bravo you may be in for some good luck!
2. While the car is at a in a stationary state, turn the steering wheel completely to the left and then begin to slowly turn the car. If you hear a noise emanating from the right front wheel side, the right axle and the rubber boot need replacement. Repeat the same thing by turning your car to the right side keeping your ears open for any noise from the left front wheel.
3. Check the odometer. If the odometer has clocked say 150,000+ kms for a sedan car, it is asking for maintenance.
4. Check the condition of the tyres. Brand new tyres easily give you 100,000 kms especially if they are of a good brand such as Yokohama, Michellan, GoodYear etc. Compare it with the odometer reading. I went to buy a car where the odometer read 47000 km but the owner had replaced all the tyres and all of them were of different brands. Surely, the odometer had been doctored. A new car always has all four tyres of the same brand and the wear out is almost the same on all tyres. .
5. Avoid buying a car that has been used as a taxi.
6. There are two types of insurance available in Qatar for vehicles.They are the 3rd Party insurance and the Comprehensive insurance. 3rd Party insurance is mandatory for all cars as per local laws and the car istimara will not get renewed in its absence. Many people do not know the difference between the two. In the 3rd party insurance cover, the insurance company will repair the damages and settle the claim of the owner if your car has landed up in an accident with another car and if the police report says you were at fault. Under Comprehensive Insurance cover, your car and its passengers along with the car of the other party and its passengers is covered should there be an accident and injuries take place even if the police report says the fault was yours. Most insurance companies in Qatar avoid providing Comprehensive Insurance cover to car which are more than 3 years old but some of them are flexible and allow up to 5 years old cars depending on the condition of the car.
7. Avoid buying a second-hand car from dealers. They just take one from a seller and hand it over to you with their mark up'
8. Remember, buying a second-hand car is almost always a "blind buy". You may be required to spend say around QR 1000 to bring it up to your level of satisfaction.