Buying a used car: checklist before and after the purchase

The used car market now

According to the Finnish Information Centre of Automobile Sector, a total of 642 971 used car sales were made in Finland in 2025, 4.1 % more than a year earlier. The average age of a car sold was 14.8 years. According to Statistics Finland, the average age of passenger cars in traffic use at the end of 2025 was 13.2 years.

The car fleet is therefore old, and many cars for sale are already subject to annual inspection. That is why finding out the condition, service history and upcoming costs is more important than merely comparing asking prices.

Check the car's details before the purchase

With Traficom's service you can see a car's basic details by registration number, such as the date of first use, fuel type, the date of the next inspection and the basis of the vehicle tax. Compare the details with the seller's listing and the car's papers.

Ask the seller for the service book or electronic service history, inspection certificates and receipts for repairs made. How the odometer reading has developed across inspections shows whether the reading is credible.

If possible, have a condition inspection carried out on the car you are buying at an independent garage or inspection station before the purchase. The inspection costs something, but it can reveal faults that do not show up on a test drive, such as rust damage to the underbody or oil leaks.

Registration certificate and the owner's identity: is the seller the car's owner?
Does the car have a finance company's retention of title or a debt?
Service and inspection history and odometer reading
Tyre condition and tread depth: winter tyres at least 3.0 mm, summer tyres 1.6 mm
Test drive at different speeds and cold start

From a shop or a private seller

When you buy a car from a dealer, the Consumer Protection Act applies to the sale. According to KKV's guidelines, a used car is defective, for example, if it does not match the information given by the seller, if the seller has failed to disclose an essential characteristic, or if the car is in worse condition than could be expected given its age, mileage, price and the seller's information. The seller is not liable for normal wear and tear or for faults disclosed in advance.

When buying from a private individual, the Consumer Protection Act does not apply; the sale is governed by the Sale of Goods Act. A dispute in a private sale cannot be taken to the Consumer Disputes Board, but is ultimately resolved in the district court. In a private sale always draw up a written bill of sale that records the car's details, the price, the odometer reading and any faults the seller has mentioned.

A warranty is a voluntary extra benefit offered by the seller. However, the seller's liability for defects may extend beyond the warranty period, so the expiry of the warranty alone does not determine whether a defect can be claimed.

Take care of these within seven days

The new owner must insure the car and register it in their own name within seven days of the sale at the latest. According to Traficom, the seller's notification of handing over the car is not enough on its own; the buyer must also submit a notification of change of ownership.

It is worth taking out motor insurance already on the day of purchase. The Motor Insurers' Centre reminds that a vehicle in the register must always have motor insurance. If insurance is missing, the Motor Insurers' Centre charges an uninsured fee. In 2025 the fee was imposed on about 32 000 vehicles, and for a short lapse on a passenger car it is typically about 70 euros.

Calculate a car's annual costs in advance

Besides the price, the purchase decision is affected by vehicle tax, insurance, fuel or electricity, servicing and inspections. Vehicle tax consists of a basic tax and, for diesel and electric cars, an additional power-source tax.

The insurance premium also varies a lot depending on the car, the driver's age, place of residence and bonuses. Motor liability insurance is compulsory, comprehensive cover is voluntary. Ask for an insurance quote before the purchase so you know the real annual cost.

The power-source tax on a diesel passenger car is 5.5 cents per day for each started 100 kilograms. For example, the power-source tax of a 1 500 kg diesel car is about 301 euros a year on top of the basic tax. The power-source tax of a fully electric car in 2026 is 1.9 cents per day per 100 kilograms, so for a 2 000 kg electric car it is about 139 euros a year.

The exact tax should be checked in Traficom's vehicle tax calculator using the registration number. Car Radar gathers current taxes, inspection intervals and tyre rules on one page.

If a fault is found in the car

Report the defect to the seller in writing as soon as possible after discovering it, and keep the messages, workshop statements and receipts. In disputes over a car bought from a dealer, you can get free help from the FCCA's consumer advisory service, and the matter can be taken to the Consumer Disputes Board for a ruling.

Do not have the fault repaired before you have notified the seller, unless it is a repair that is necessary for road safety. The seller generally has the right to inspect and repair the defect first.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly must the change of ownership of a purchased car be made?

The new owner must insure the car and register it in their name within seven days at the latest. It is worth taking out motor liability insurance already on the day of the sale.

Does consumer protection apply to a car bought from a private individual?

No. A private sale is governed by the Sale of Goods Act, and disputes are resolved in the district court. The Consumer Protection Act applies to a car bought from a business.

How much is the power-source tax on a diesel car?

5.5 cents a day for every started 100 kilos. For a 1,500 kg car that is about €301 a year on top of the basic tax.

Car Radar brings together the topic's figures, deadlines and services. Open Car Radar →

Calculate it yourself

Ready-made tools

Car annual cost calculator · Fuel or electricity, insurance, tax, servicing and depreciation
Logbook and mileage allowance · Trips with odometer readings, mileage allowance 2026 and a monthly summary

Sources

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.