TAKE INTO YOUR BUYING BRIEF
Three things to record
| Check | What to request |
|---|---|
| New | Production and registration status, pre-delivery record |
| Used | History, declared mileage and individual inspection |
| Either | Shared equipment requirements, separate condition criteria |
Define the requested new-car status
State whether the requirement includes unregistered status, a particular production period or another documented condition. Ask what records establish those points. A low odometer reading or a polished exterior cannot answer every status question.
Keep production and registration separate using the year guide. Where destination classification matters, have the particular records reviewed by the appropriate local adviser. A sales description alone does not establish import or registration eligibility.
Specify pre-delivery checks
Agree a check of body condition, cabin controls, warnings, tyres, keys and supplied items. New-car status does not rule out storage or handling concerns. Record any preparation promised and how completion will be documented before dispatch.
Keep essential equipment requirements attached to the request. Confirm the powertrain and trim against the actual candidate, and identify any accessory supplied separately. A model name should not replace an acceptance record.
Request the used vehicle’s own history
Ask for declared mileage, available service and registration records, disclosures and a vehicle-specific inspection. Missing history should remain visible. It is not evidence that the car has never required repair or experienced damage.
The inspection guide sets out useful evidence categories. For a hybrid candidate, commission an appropriate system review rather than applying findings from a petrol example or another car in the same order.
Compare equivalent offers
Place preparation, inspection and supplied items beside the vehicle amount. Identify excluded work and any remaining concerns. Differences in condition may explain a price gap that is not apparent from the model year alone.
The quotation guide helps compare scope. If either new or used is acceptable, maintain separate condition criteria while keeping the same essential equipment and destination requirements. Availability is confirmed when an actual offer is prepared.
Ask the seller to disclose any registration, demonstration use or preparation relevant to the buyer’s definition. Record the response with the candidate reference and compare it with the supplied documents before describing the vehicle to a customer.
Example: keeping alternatives useful
A buyer will consider new or used but requires an identified powertrain, a particular cabin function and clear documentation. Ask for those same features on both routes, then apply the relevant status or history checks. If an older production version is proposed, verify availability without assuming it remains obtainable new. The comparison should explain what the buyer receives and what is still awaiting evidence.
Model references: GAC Toyota Camry (China), China configuration sheet (PDF), and Toyota’s US 2025 Camry brochure (PDF). Market-specific information must be matched to the offered vehicle.