A car is the biggest thing most people will ever buy second-hand, and it's where the most expensive mistakes happen. A clean paint job can hide flood damage, a friendly seller can be selling a car they don't own, and a good price can turn into months of repairs. This checklist walks you through buying a used car in Ghana the safe way, from the first WhatsApp message to the day the car is registered in your name.
Ghana-used or home-used?
Sellers usually describe cars as either "Ghana-used" (already registered and driven in Ghana) or "home-used" (recently imported, often from the US, Europe or Korea, and either newly registered or not yet registered here). Neither is automatically better. A Ghana-used car has a local history you can ask about, but it has lived with our roads and fuel. A home-used car may have lower local mileage, but you need to be sure the import duty was paid and that it wasn't a salvage or flood car abroad. Whichever you choose, the checks below apply.
Before you go to see the car
Ask for clear photos and the basics
Ask the seller for photos of the dashboard with the engine running (so you can see warning lights and mileage), the engine bay, the tyres and the chassis number. Ask the year, the mileage, how long they've owned it and why they're selling. A genuine seller answers these easily.
Compare the price
Search similar cars by make, model and year on Wujibaba's Vehicles & Parts section. If a car is far cheaper than everything like it, treat that as a warning sign, not a bargain.
Never pay a deposit to "hold" a car you haven't seen
A request for a "small commitment fee" before viewing is one of the most common car scams. Real sellers can wait until you've seen the car.
Check the papers
The paperwork tells you whether the seller can legally sell the car. Ask to see the original documents, not photos of them, and take your time.
Vehicle registration documents
The name on the DVLA registration documents should match the seller's Ghana Card. If it doesn't, ask why. Sometimes a family member is selling on behalf of the owner, but then you need the owner involved in the transfer.
Chassis (VIN) number
Find the chassis number on the car itself, usually on the dashboard by the windscreen, on the driver's door frame and stamped on the body. It must match the documents exactly. Scratched or re-stamped numbers are a reason to walk away.
Roadworthy and insurance
Check that the roadworthy certificate and insurance are current and that the details on the stickers match the car.
Customs papers for imported cars
For a home-used car, ask for the customs documents showing that import duty was paid. Without them you could end up owing the duty yourself, or be unable to register the car.
Inspect the car
Bring a mechanic you trust. Paying a mechanic for an hour is cheap compared with a gearbox. If you can't bring one, at least check the following yourself, in daylight and with the engine cold.
Start it cold
Ask the seller not to run the engine before you arrive. Watch for heavy smoke, knocking or a struggle to start.
Look for flood damage
Smell for damp in the cabin, lift the floor mats and look for rust under the seats or mud in strange places. Flood cars are common among cheap imports.
Check the body and tyres
Uneven gaps between panels or paint that doesn't quite match can mean a past accident. Uneven tyre wear can mean alignment or suspension problems.
Scan for warning lights
All dashboard lights should come on briefly when you turn the key and then go off. A light that never comes on at all may have been disconnected to hide a fault.
Test drive properly
Drive on a rough road and a smooth one, try the brakes firmly, listen for knocks over bumps, and make sure the gears change smoothly, including reverse.
Paying and transferring ownership
Agree the price only after the inspection, and put what you agreed in writing: the price, the car's chassis number, both names and Ghana Card numbers, and the date. Both of you sign it.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. A bank transfer leaves a record for both sides. Do the ownership transfer at DVLA together with the seller, so the car is registered in your name before you drive off for good. If the seller won't go to DVLA with you, don't buy the car.
Where to look
You can browse cars, motorbikes and spare parts near you on Wujibaba, for example vehicles for sale in Kumasi, around Spintex and Tema or in East Legon. Message sellers directly on WhatsApp, ask every question on this list, and only meet in a busy, public place. If anything about a listing feels wrong, report it to our safety desk and we'll take a look.