# Inspecting a Used Car Before You Buy: 7 Key Checks Published 8 June 2026 · Updated 26 August 2026 "I think I'll get it, but how do I know I won't regret it?" We hear some version of that question almost every week, usually from someone who has never bought a used car in Greece before. It's a fair question. A used car isn't like a pair of shoes you try on and instantly know fits. It has a history that doesn't show on the surface, and somebody already knows that history better than you do: the person selling it to you. We won't tell you to "trust your gut." Your gut doesn't read service books. What follows are the points we check first on every car before it enters our lot. You can ask for the same things, from anyone you're about to trust with your money. ## 1. The odometer shows a number. Not the truth The first thing almost everyone looks at is the mileage. It's also the first thing that can mislead you. Records don't always travel cleanly between countries, and a lot of history still lives on paper, which makes it easier than people think to roll back a number on the dashboard. The cheaper the car, the more often it happens. So here's what we tell anyone who asks us: don't just look at the number. Look at whether that number agrees with the wear on the steering wheel, the pedals, the driver's seat, the tyres. A car showing 60,000 km with a worn-out steering wheel is telling you something the odometer isn't. ## 2. Ask for the inspection history, not promises Every time a car goes through its roadworthiness test (ΚΤΕΟ in Greece), its mileage gets logged and stays in the system. That's a record the seller doesn't control, the inspection authority does. Ask to see the certificates from the last few checks and line the mileage figures up next to each other. If you spot a sudden drop, or numbers that don't add up over time, that's not a small detail. It's the first sign something is off, and your reason to ask more questions. Or, depending on the answer you get, to walk away. ## 3. Look at the paint before you look at the dashboard Before you even get in, walk around the car in good daylight, ideally in the sun rather than under cover. Differences in shade between a door and the wing, small irregularities in the finish, windscreen rubber seals that don't quite match: these are all signs that a panel has been repainted or replaced. That doesn't automatically mean the car has been in a serious accident. It means it deserves an explanation, and that explanation should reassure you, not put you on edge. ## 4. The service book is the paper that flatters no one A seller can tell you "I looked after it like my own child." A service book and maintenance invoices simply record what was done and when, with no interest in convincing you of anything. Ask to see them. And if they don't exist, or "got lost somewhere along the way," that absence is already an answer. ## 5. Get an independent VIN check There are services today that, using the chassis number (VIN), can tell you about a car's history: previous owners, recorded accidents, even mileage inconsistencies between countries. They're not infallible, but they're a second opinion that has nothing to gain from selling you anything. It's worth the small fee, especially on cars imported from abroad. ## 6. Bring a mechanic before you sign, not after We'll say this plainly: anyone who discourages you from bringing your own mechanic for an inspection is telling you something about how confident they really are in the car they're selling. An independent mechanic will spot things neither you nor the seller can see with the naked eye: leaks, suspension wear, signs of repair work on the chassis. The cost of that inspection is small next to the cost of the wrong decision. ## 7. Talk to someone who has nothing to gain by hiding the truth from you We understand the scepticism. Every dealer says "we're different." The only real answer to that isn't more words. It's showing you the car as it is, flaws, history, anything that needs work, before you even ask. Anyone willing to point out what isn't perfect about a car is also showing you they have nothing to hide about the rest of it. At [Bratsos Team](/en/bratsos-team), the check we just walked you through is the first step before any car enters our lot. If you'd like to see what we currently have in Tripoli, take a look at our [available cars](/en/cars), or [talk to us directly](/en/contact), by phone, Viber or WhatsApp. No middlemen. And if you want to see exactly what we do to a car after it passes this check and before it reaches you, read [what we check, fix and prepare on every car we sell or rent out](/en/what-we-do-every-car-we-sell-or-rent-it-out). ## Frequently asked questions ### How important is mileage when buying a used car? Important, but not on its own. A car with higher mileage and a complete maintenance history can be a better buy than one with "low" mileage and gaps in its records. Look at the whole picture, not just the number on the dashboard. ### How can I tell if the odometer has been tampered with? Compare the dashboard mileage with roadworthiness test (ΚΤΕΟ) certificates and service invoices from previous years. Check the physical wear too: steering wheel, pedals, driver's seat, tyres. If something doesn't add up, ask for an explanation or request an independent VIN check. ### What documents should I ask for before buying a used car? Roadworthiness test certificates, the service book with maintenance invoices, and, for an imported car, documentation about its history in the country it came from. The more complete the file, the fewer the question marks. ### Do I really need a mechanic before buying? Yes, if you care about knowing what you're buying rather than just what you can see. An independent mechanic costs very little next to the risk of a decision that's hard to reverse once you've signed. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How important is mileage when buying a used car?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Important, but not on its own. A car with higher mileage and a complete maintenance history can be a better buy than one with low mileage and gaps in its records." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can I tell if the odometer has been tampered with?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Compare the dashboard mileage with roadworthiness test (KTEO) certificates and service invoices, and check the physical wear on the steering wheel, pedals, seat and tyres. If something doesn't add up, ask for an independent VIN check." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What documents should I ask for before buying a used car?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Roadworthiness test certificates, the service book with maintenance invoices, and for imported cars, documentation about its history in the country of origin." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I really need a mechanic before buying?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. An independent mechanic costs very little next to the risk of a decision that is hard to reverse once you have signed." } } ] } ## Want a second opinion on a specific car? This is what we do every day. Send us the advert, or bring us the car, and we will tell you what you are really getting. [ +30 697 367 7817 ](tel:+306973677817) [ WhatsApp ](https://wa.me/306973677817) ## Other Articles [ ### When you need a car rental in Arcadia: 6 cases you haven't thought of Car rental isn't just for tourists. 6 real situations where it pays off for residents of Tripoli and Arcadia to rent a car. Read More → ](/en/blog/pote-xreiazesai-enoikiasi-autokinitou-arkadia) [ ### Your car's in the garage: what "I'll just wait it out" really costs you When your car goes into the garage for days, the first instinct is "I'll figure something out." What that "something" really costs, lost time, taxis, awkward borrowed cars, compared to a straightforward rental. 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