Used-car market revs up
Our guide to driving off with the best second-hand car deal in town
If your head hasn’t been turned by a shiny brand new car at this month’s Brussels Motor Show but you are in search of a new set of wheels, consider cruising the used-car market. You may end up driving off with a premium model for the price of a basic small new car. New cars depreciate rapidly in value and it’s easier to pay off a used car than a lengthy contract to finance a new one. Insurance and tax on used cars are also lower. Belgium was once a car-buyer’s paradise before EU legislation regulated the European market. Take heart, though, it is still a good place for second-hand cars, especially luxury models. But buying a used car is also a bit of a gamble and undeniably requires more legwork, so here are some guidelines to ease the process and avoid the pitfalls.
Selecting make and model
Do as much research as you can into the car model you want, down to options and engine size. Read reviews, consumer reports and talk to friends to get an idea about reliability and maintenance costs. If you narrow your search to one or two models it will be far easier to approach a dealership or search a website. Your choice will generally be dictated by your budget, the number of kilometres on the clock and your family situation. And whichever option you pick, don’t forget to test drive the car, preferably on the motorway and in town.
Internet and magazines
The internet is one of the most popular tools for starting your search as it gives you immediate access to up-to-date information on available cars across the country. It also provides you with an idea of price according to options and production year. Car magazines also carry comprehensive price guides and often offer a useful indication of what road tax you would pay. Be warned that the official trade-in prices of second-hand cars are often lower than the price you can actually obtain. Check the small ads in publications for more accurate pricing.
Useful addresses
Professional dealers and garages
Out of 2,000 second-hand car specialists, only around 140 are certified vendeur agréé/ erkend verkoper – a seal of approval given since 1992 by the car association Federauto to help regulate the profession. On the downside going through an approved vendor is 15 to 20 percent more expensive than buying from an individual seller. On the upside, though, they may offer a guarantee on your car of up to three years. In reality most garages are not certified (it costs them €500 a year) and clients are rarely aware of the distinction.
Among the second-hand car sale professionals, you have the choice between a car dealership and independent garage. The former is usually tied to one carmaker and offers a minimum one-year guarantee. It is the preferred choice of a buyer wary of the second-hand market and who doesn’t mind paying slightly more in return for ‘confidence’ in the purchase. An independent garage usually offers a contract with a one-year guarantee (ultimately the responsibility of the garage, but be aware that during the second six months of the guarantee if a hidden fault comes to light the owner will have to prove that the problem existed when the car was bought).
When buying from a garage expect to walk away with four documents: the conformity certificate (certificat de conformité/ certificaat van overeenstemming); the road worthiness certificate (contrôle technique/ technische controle) which automatically includes the Car-Pass, stating the vehicle’s mileage; and the registration application form (demande d’immatriculation/inschriving bij de DIV).
Individual seller
Despite asking all the right questions, peering under the bonnet and inspecting the bodywork, tyres and service records, you are never going to be totally sure what you are buying. Certainly, individual sellers offer the best deals because they cut out the expense of the middleman, but you have no guarantee. Remember they should also provide a certificate of roadworthiness that is less than two months old (including the Car-Pass).
When you buy a second-hand car from an individual, you don’t pay VAT, but if you buy from a garage or dealer, you pay 21 percent. If you have a VAT number yourself you cannot declare the purchase.
If you want to buy from an individual but lack experience in judging a car, you can ask the automobile associations’ Touring or VTB-VAB to do an inspection at the cost of approximately €125. The general advice when buying from an individual is to look at the whole package – the owner (beware of multiple owners), the service record and the state of the car. Fiddling the odometer to reduce the mileage is virtually unheard of these days, but if you fear the clock has been tampered with, check the steering is not too loose and that the foot pedals are not worn on both sides.
CHECK LIST
*Look for rust in the bodywork, boot and even under the carpet, a sign that the car has not been looked after
*Make sure it has not been in an accident
*Look under the bonnet and check oil and water levels
*Check all paperwork, including service record
*Check the chassis number
* Check the number of kms in service record
Car auctions
You are generally advised to avoid buying at auction because of the many risks involved, particularly concerning stolen cars. They are usually the domain of the professional buyer, so dare to bid only if accompanied by an expert. Don’t forget you will need to pay an auction fee and VAT, and you won’t get a chance to test the vehicle. Many car sales are organised on Sunday morning in supermarket car parks. Otherwise there is an auction every Thursday at 13.00 in the industrial zone of Wavre (www.bca.be), predominately frequented by professionals buying cars to export abroad.
Importing a car
The introduction of the European Conformity Certificate (proof a car is in line with EU technical standards) in 1996 and the Euro in 2002 have made it far easier to buy new and second-hand cars abroad. But the paperwork remains tedious.
Foreign vehicles that are moved permanently into the country need to be officially registered, and sometimes modified to meet standards. When you arrive in Belgium you have six months from the date of your own registration at the commune in which to register your vehicle. If you stay in Belgium for more than one year you need to import and register your vehicle.
If you have a used car, you do not need to pay import tax provided you can prove that it moved with you and was used by you prior to your arrival in Belgium. For newer vehicles you need to prove that the car was bought at least six months before you arrived.
Registration is with the DIV (Direction Circulation Routière/Dienst voor Inschrijving van de Voertuigen). For a new registration plate (it once followed the driver, but now follows the car), you will need to provide the following original documents: residency permit, conformity certificate, proof of purchase, previous registration document, Belgian insurance document, customs clearance, roadworthiness certificate, registration application form, required fees, fiscal tax stamps. To apply online, contact Web-DIV.
When importing a car into Belgium you need to give the following documents to customs authorities to avoid paying VAT: residency permit, proof of purchase, previous registration document. Importing from outside the EU is a more complicated process and therefore easier via a specialist broker or agent.
