Pin down the specification
Ask for a written list of equipment for the specific car, not a promotional brochure. Compare it with what matters to you: driver assistance systems, heated seats and screens, a spare wheel.
Buying
Choosing and buying: the contract and taking delivery
The most expensive mistakes when buying a new car are made not on the test drive but at the sales desk and in the last half hour before you drive away. Haste, tiredness and the urge to get going make it easy to miss an extra line in the contract or a scratch on a door. This section helps you get through both stages calmly.
Anything you were promised verbally should appear in the contract or in an annex to it.
We do not name sellers, banks or insurers, compare offers or quote prices. This section covers only the general procedure that applies to any purchase of a new car in Russia; in other countries the paperwork and consumer rules differ.
Before the contract
Six things best done before you put your signature on anything.
Separate the car from the extras
The price of the car and the cost of additional services should be shown separately. That makes it easier to see exactly what you are paying for and what you can decline.
Read the payment terms
If you are buying on finance, study the repayment schedule, the total cost and the mandatory terms of the agreement carefully. Compare several offers and do not sign anything on your first visit.
Find out the warranty terms
Ask for the manufacturer's warranty terms and the service book. Before signing you should understand how the car must be serviced to keep the warranty valid.
Check the delivery date
The delivery date and the consequences of a delay are best set out in the contract as a specific clause, not as a verbal promise.
Take a break
Take the draft contract home and reread it with a fresh mind. A reasonable seller will not insist on a signature there and then.
Handover at the showroom: what to check
- Bodywork — only in daylight or under bright, even lighting: chips, scratches, panels in slightly different shades, uneven gaps between panels.
- Glass, lights and tyres: cracks and chips, identical tyre markings on all wheels, a spare wheel or repair kit if one is supposed to be included.
- Equipment against the contract: every listed item must be present and working.
- VIN on the body and in the documents: the number must match everywhere, with no corrections or discrepancies.
- Mileage: a new car should show very little; if the reading is noticeably higher than expected, ask for a written explanation.
- Electrics: lights, windows, mirrors, infotainment, heating functions, cameras and parking sensors.
- Electronic vehicle passport (EPTS, used in Russia) and documents: the status of the e-passport, the service book, the owner's manual, the warranty terms and the full set of keys.
- Handover certificate: sign it after the inspection and record every issue in it, however minor.
Read next
- Body types
Saloon, hatchback, estate, crossover, MPV or pickup: which body type and class suit your journeys and your family.
- Reviews
Reviews of decisions, not brands: manual or automatic, engine type, finance or savings, optional extras, plus an article catalogue.
- Faults
Minor niggles on a new car: odd noises, warning lights, a weak battery, steering wheel vibration and the new-car smell.
Sources
- Russian Federation Law on Consumer Protection
- Rules for vehicle registration with the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate (general provisions)
Information on laws and regulations reflects the versions in force when the material was prepared. Rules change over time, and every manufacturer sets its own warranty and service terms, so before any important decision check the current texts, your contract and your vehicle's documents.