Complete Checklist for Buying a Used Car: From Inspection to Financing

Buying Guides
Author: Mustafa Odabaşı
Creation: 11 October 2026

The buyer who doesn't break the order wins: first budget, then mileage and damage history, then an independent inspection; credit comes as the last step.

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The safest way to buy a used car is to put the process into a certain order: first clarify, according to your budget, the question of new versus used, then query the mileage and damage records, have the vehicle inspected by an independent inspection service, and only at the end turn to financing and transfer procedures. A buyer who follows this order has the chance to see most of the market's risks before paying any money; the industry's own data also shows that with proper checks and inspection, 90% of risks can be detected in advance. The guide below covers each step of this path with details specific to the Türkiye market.

Key Takeaways

More than 8 million used vehicles are sold in Türkiye every year.
As of 2026, comprehensive inspection packages mostly range between 4,000-13,000 TL .
Damage records can be queried by sending an SMS to 5664 with the license plate; TRAMER records are tied to the chassis number and are not erased even if the plate changes.
As of January 1, 2026, notary transfers involve a proportional fee of 0.2% of the sale price instead of a fixed fee.
As of 2026, the use of the Secure Payment System in used car sales is mandatory.

New or Used: Deciding with Budget and Depreciation Logic

Yeni araç çekirgesi ikinci elde de faturayı yukarı çekiyor; kayıp sadece amortismanda değil, doğru kararı bütçe değil pazar dinamikleri belirliyor.

There is no universal answer to this question; your budget, how long you will keep the vehicle, and that year's price table determine it together. In 2026, the rise in new car prices keeps the used market lively; on the other hand, the relatively advantageous prices of new cars also create pressure on the used market. Since every price increase in list prices also pushes used values upward, expecting a notable nominal decline in TL terms is not realistic at this stage.

In the past, buying a new car was simply about receiving the keys and hitting the road. Now the vehicle has become a computer on wheels; OTA software updates and cloud-connected features are among the factors influencing the purchase decision. For buyers who want to keep up with technology, this is a plus; for those who prefer mechanical simplicity, it is neutral or even a minus.

For companies, the depreciation side

If you are buying a vehicle on behalf of a company, there is no difference between new and used in terms of the depreciation ceiling; in 2026, the ceiling for used passenger cars is calculated with taxes added to the cost. For companies comparing with long-term leasing, the depreciation limit is 1,380,000 TL. So the decision criterion should not be taxes, but cash flow and usage patterns.

How to Query Mileage and Damage Records When Buying a Used Car?

Before talking money, complete two queries: mileage history and damage records. Both take a few minutes of your time and protect you from the most expensive mistakes.

Mileage history

You can check the mileage history via e-Devlet's "Vehicle Inspection Inquiry" service using TÜVTÜRK inspection records. PTT's Aracım360 service provides mileage history with a license plate or chassis number; the same query can also be made through PttBank internet banking. When you put a few inspection periods side by side, fraudulent rollbacks become immediately obvious. Tampering with the odometer is covered under the Turkish Penal Code as qualified fraud ; if you discover it later, you have the right to compensation and return under defective goods provisions, and the Consumer Arbitration Committee and court route is open.

Damage records and TRAMER's limit

Damage inquiry is done via SMS to 5664 through operator lines using the license plate; even if the plate changes, the damage history remains visible. With the "HASAR S PLATE" format, mileage history and damage information can be obtained together. TRAMER records are kept by chassis number, so plate changes do not erase the records. But there is a critical limit here: TRAMER only shows damage reported to insurance companies. Repairs that never entered the records can only be caught by an independent inspection. Saying "TRAMER is clean" does not mean "damage-free"; putting the two on the same footing is one of the most expensive mistakes in this trade.

Also, you can only view another person's vehicle damage record on e-Devlet for free for your own vehicle. For another vehicle, you must ask the seller for a screenshot or an official report, or pay for an SMS inquiry. A seller who refuses this has already given you the most important piece of information about themselves.

Inspection Process: What Is Checked, How Much Does It Cost, Who Chooses?

An inspection is the insurance of a used-car purchase. As of 2026, basic packages mostly range between 4,900–5,500 TL, while comprehensive packages run between 7,000–13,000 TL; a budget of 4,000–10,000 TL is generally considered sufficient. Some chains offering first-class service can also provide over 250 checkpoints and a 90-day buy-back guarantee. The upper-end price of the comprehensive package may seem high at first glance; but next to the cost of a drivetrain failure, it remains an expense of low accounting significance.

What should you look for in the report?

Paint thickness: original paint 80–150 microns; on a repainted panel, over 200 microns is measured.
Engine smoke: blue smoke indicates oil burning (piston/ring wear), black smoke indicates a fuel system/injector problem, and dense white smoke after warm-up points to a head gasket burn risk.
Transmission: automatic gear shift delay should not exceed 1 second.
Tires: tread depth at least 1.6 mm; tires older than 5 years harden and lose grip.
Interior: wear should be consistent with mileage; a worn steering wheel at 50,000 km counts as suspicious.

Consider the test drive an integral part of the inspection: at least 15–20 minutes, covering both city streets and open road, preferably starting with a cold start. A cold engine reveals sounds and smoke hidden in a warm engine much earlier.

Is an inspection mandatory, and what is the legal force of the report?

As a general rule, there is no legal obligation for individual purchases; however, for vehicles younger than 8 years old and under 160,000 km, an inspection tied to the loan becomes mandatory. Making inspections gradually mandatory for private sales is also on the agenda; reports that the discussed "6 months - 6,000 km" limit has been extended should not be taken as definitive information until official legislation is published. Under Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection and the second-hand trade regulation, an authorized inspection report is considered an official legal document; reports under the TS 12820 standard carry defect liability for a certain period and mileage and can be used in court as evidence of hidden defects. Always have the report done by an independent firm chosen by the buyer; there is no such thing as the seller's suggested "acquaintance inspection."

Dealer, Gallery, or Private Seller: Pros and Cons

Route	Strength	Weakness
Gallery / dealer	Authorized certificate, trade-in, and flexible payment options like credit and promissory notes; the process is not exhausting	Generally more expensive; you pay extra for comfort and assurance
Private seller	Price advantage, the chance to hear the vehicle's single-owner history	Transaction security depends entirely on the buyer's diligence

Let me say this with many years of experience: while the profit potential is somewhat higher in a private sale, you also pay the price of the hassle. When buying from a gallery, the authorized certificate and the right steps do half the work; the other half is still your checklist. Whichever route you take, the red flags are the same:

A listing price more than 15% below the market.
A registration that has changed hands many times in a short period.
The seller refusing to go on a test drive and saying "no need for an inspection."
The possibility that pre-sale washing and polishing hides underbody defects.

There is also the matter of the deposit: never send a deposit for a vehicle you have not seen; this is one of the most frequently reported fraud methods. Always choose the inspection company yourself.

Promissory Note or Auto Loan: The Real Cost of Financing

Do not compare financing options by just looking at the interest rate and be done with it. The cost of an auto loan consists of the interest plus insurance expenses, file fees, KKDF, and BSMV. Banks' sample fees also show the items: the loan origination fee is around 0.575% of the amount (including BSMV), and the lien establishment fee is a low but non-negligible item of about 75 TL. The most accurate way to compare offers is to put the annual cost rates for the same amount and term side by side; since this rate includes all expenses, it gives the real picture.

On the promissory note side, payment plan flexibility stands out; dealerships can offer options such as trade-in, loans, and promissory notes together. However, in a purchase with a promissory note, how the vehicle works as collateral and the note's performance risk represent a different accounting than a loan. With a bank loan, the regulatory framework is clear; with a promissory note, the assurance relies largely on the counterparty's payment discipline and the solidity of the contract. A calm calculation: do not accept any offer that does not state in writing upfront the total repayment, hidden items, and what happens in case of delay.

Registration and Transfer: Notary Costs and Key Points in 2026

The most important change of 2026 occurred in the transfer process: as of January 1, 2026, the fixed fee at notary transfers was replaced by a proportional duty system based on the sale price or comprehensive insurance value. In other words, whoever buys an expensive vehicle pays more duty; the old fixed fee schedules are no longer valid. The current schedule roughly works as follows:

Approximately 1,870-1,970 TL fixed notary processing fee.
Proportional duty at a rate of 2 per thousand of the sale price, minimum 1,000 TL.
Approximately 1,511 TL registration certificate (valued paper) fee.

The second critical development is the Secure Payment System: the vehicle price is deposited into the system via wire transfer, EFT, or FAST, and when the notary approves the sale, the money passes to the seller. As of 2026, its use is mandatory in second-hand sales; the operating fee is approximately 100-250 TL. In the past, buyer and seller were expected to meet in line and agree on mutual trust; now the flow of money is tied to notary approval - one of the most positive changes in this business.

Checklist for the moment of sale and afterwards

Since December 5, 2024, an active mandatory traffic insurance policy issued in the buyer's name must appear in the system at the notary sale; a vehicle without insurance cannot be sold at the notary.
The registration is destroyed at the notary and a new registration certificate is printed.
After the sale, transfer the comprehensive insurance to the buyer, update the HGS/OGS registration; if the license plate will change, complete the Drivers' Chamber procedures.
If technical modifications have been made to the vehicle, it is not the case that no processing can be done at registration desks within 15 days after the sale - on the contrary, processing can be done within this period; keep this in mind.

Let me finish with a habit suggestion: doing the three most critical elements - Tramer and mileage inquiry, cold start and engine-transmission check with a test drive, and paint inspection - in order without skipping any, filters out most of the problems in a second-hand purchase right at the door. The rest is patiently applying the steps above.