DGT Urges Used Car Buyers to Verify Vehicle History to Avoid Fraud and Technical Risks
The Directorate-General for Traffic is urging used-car buyers to purchase official vehicle reports to verify mechanical history, legal status, and ownership records before finalizing a sale.
Traffic authorities are urging buyers to prioritize transparency when purchasing a used vehicle. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) emphasizes that checking a car’s official history is the best way to avoid financial and technical risks during private sales.
The DGT offers detailed reports that provide a clear picture of a vehicle's administrative and mechanical condition. These documents confirm essential details like the vehicle’s technical specifications, emissions, and the status of its mandatory inspections (ITV). More importantly, they reveal critical information that might otherwise be missed, such as outstanding safety recalls from manufacturers and records of past repairs from official workshops.
These reports are also vital for identifying potential legal issues. They reveal if a vehicle has any liens, seizures, or restrictions that could prevent a transfer of ownership or leave a new owner responsible for someone else’s debts. Additionally, the report tracks the number of previous owners, which helps buyers better estimate the vehicle's actual wear and tear.
Obtaining this information is a straightforward online process that requires a small fee. With the second-hand market growing, these reports serve as an essential safeguard. By reviewing them before signing a contract, buyers can make informed decisions and avoid costly surprises.