Buying a Used Car in Ghana: What to Check Before You Pay
By Kurom Marketplace · 24 September 2026
A used car is the largest purchase most people make on a marketplace, and most of the risk can be removed with an afternoon of checking.
Documents first
Ask to see the registration documents and confirm the chassis number on the paperwork matches the one stamped on the car. Ask directly whether duty has been paid, and ask to see evidence. A car sold cheaply with duty outstanding is not cheap once you have cleared it.
If the seller is not the registered owner, ask why, and be cautious. You want a clear chain from the person on the documents to the person taking your money.
The physical check
Look along the body panels from an angle in good light. Ripples, mismatched paint shades and uneven gaps between panels suggest accident repair. Check that all four tyres are the same make and have even tread wear; uneven wear points at suspension or alignment problems.
Open the bonnet with the engine cold. Look for oil around the head gasket, check the oil on the dipstick is not milky, and look for corrosion on the battery terminals. Start it and listen before the engine warms up, when noises are easiest to hear.
The test drive
Drive it, do not just sit in it. Get it up to speed on a clear stretch. The steering should not pull to one side, the brakes should not judder, and the gearbox should change without hesitation. Test the air conditioning, the electric windows and the lights.
If you are not confident judging a car, pay a mechanic to come with you. It is a small cost against the price of the car and the strongest single protection you have.
Paying
Agree the price and what it includes in writing, including who pays for what on the transfer. Complete the transfer of ownership properly rather than relying on a handwritten note. Meet in daylight, in public, and do not carry large amounts of cash alone.
Documents first
Ask to see the registration documents and confirm the chassis number on the paperwork matches the one stamped on the car. Ask directly whether duty has been paid, and ask to see evidence. A car sold cheaply with duty outstanding is not cheap once you have cleared it.
If the seller is not the registered owner, ask why, and be cautious. You want a clear chain from the person on the documents to the person taking your money.
The physical check
Look along the body panels from an angle in good light. Ripples, mismatched paint shades and uneven gaps between panels suggest accident repair. Check that all four tyres are the same make and have even tread wear; uneven wear points at suspension or alignment problems.
Open the bonnet with the engine cold. Look for oil around the head gasket, check the oil on the dipstick is not milky, and look for corrosion on the battery terminals. Start it and listen before the engine warms up, when noises are easiest to hear.
The test drive
Drive it, do not just sit in it. Get it up to speed on a clear stretch. The steering should not pull to one side, the brakes should not judder, and the gearbox should change without hesitation. Test the air conditioning, the electric windows and the lights.
If you are not confident judging a car, pay a mechanic to come with you. It is a small cost against the price of the car and the strongest single protection you have.
Paying
Agree the price and what it includes in writing, including who pays for what on the transfer. Complete the transfer of ownership properly rather than relying on a handwritten note. Meet in daylight, in public, and do not carry large amounts of cash alone.
