How to buy a used car safely
Seven steps from the first message to the ownership transfer. Most scams and bad buys show up in the first three.
Ask for the VIN and the ODO-Pass
A seller with nothing to hide gives you the VIN and the ODO-Pass number with its date. Enter them on rpzv.sk and compare the mileage history with the listing.
Check the car's history
A paid report by VIN, for example from carVertical, shows records from other countries, accidents and theft. For an imported car it's worth the money.
Make sure the car isn't pledged
Look the car up in the notarial register of pledges (Notársky centrálny register záložných práv on notar.sk). If the car is leased, the leasing company owns it, not the seller.
See the car in person
Go in daylight and check that the VIN on the car matches the registration certificate. Take a test drive, and if you're unsure, have a mechanic or an STK station look at it.
Pay only at the handover
Never send a deposit, a delivery fee or a reservation payment for a car you haven't seen. Pay when you get the car, the keys and the documents.
Sign a written contract
Write down the VIN, the mileage, the price and any faults you know about. Our template fills in the car from the listing; print two copies.
Transfer the car to your name
Do the ownership change together at the vehicle registration office (dopravný inšpektorát). What to bring is listed on minv.sk.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official websites before you buy.