The documents you should never skip

A safe purchase starts with paperwork in order. Ask to see the original invoice (not an uncertified copy), a current registration card in the seller's name or properly endorsed, and confirm the details match exactly the VIN stamped on the vehicle.

If the car was imported, ask for the permanent import customs form. Without it, the vehicle can't legally circulate long-term in the country, and regularizing it later can cost more than whatever you saved buying it cheap.

When something doesn't add up — a different name, a date that doesn't match, corrections on a document — ask for a written explanation or simply walk away. Urgency is the seller's best friend when something is wrong.