Clarify commercial and physical status
Ask whether the vehicle has been registered, how it has been used, when it was manufactured and what mileage evidence is available. A recent registration date does not prove the car was built recently or remained unused. An unregistered car may still need attention after storage. Record these facts separately in your shortlist.
If an offer is described as new, request the supporting commercial documentation and clarify the terms applying to its sale and export. Do not treat a marketing description as a complete statement of condition or warranty. The year and version guide explains the dates to record for each candidate.
Inspect storage and use differently
A long-stored candidate deserves checks of tyres, battery condition, fluids, brakes, seals and ventilation. A regularly used car requires a careful review of servicing, wear and repairs. Both need a VIN-specific inspection, although the likely preparation tasks may differ. Low displayed mileage should not eliminate the inspection appointment.
Ask for the history supporting the claimed status and record what cannot be verified. If the seller provides photographs from an earlier date, obtain current condition evidence before release. The vehicle you accept should match its latest inspection and the agreed preparation scope.
Check warranty claims explicitly
Identify who provides any proposed warranty, where it can be used and what procedure applies to claims. Request the relevant terms for the actual vehicle and transaction. Do not assume that a manufacturer warranty in the original market transfers to an overseas used-car buyer or that a seller's promise provides local workshop coverage.
If warranty support is essential to the resale plan, resolve it before comparing prices. Otherwise, estimate the support your own dealership intends to provide and include that responsibility in the commercial assessment. Keep warranty claims distinct from the factual record of completed maintenance.
Compare complete preparation costs
An older candidate may require more visible reconditioning but come with useful service evidence. A newer-looking car may carry a higher price while leaving storage, equipment or documentation questions unresolved. Price the actual findings and missing accessories rather than assigning a fixed quality ranking by year.
Use the same delivery basis, currency and inspection standard for both offers. Record preparation timing and unresolved costs. The CS75 price worksheet helps show when a lower purchase price remains attractive after the car reaches your intended sale condition.
Separate age preference from evidence requirements
Suppose your dealership prefers recent CS75 registrations but can consider older builds when condition and documentation are strong. Keep “recent registration preferred” in the preference column and place the required identity, inspection and equipment evidence in the mandatory column. This lets a worthwhile alternative enter the comparison without implying that its age can replace any of the required checks.
For an older candidate, ask which maintenance and repair records support the proposed preparation plan. For a low-mileage recent candidate, ask what establishes its use and storage history. Apply the same discipline to both: state the evidence received, the remaining uncertainty and the work needed to reach your sale standard. Neither should receive an automatic pass because its description sounds more attractive.
Where customers strongly favour a particular year label, ensure the retail description explains what that label represents. Build date and first registration should remain accurate even when the source-market marketing year differs. Your sales team can then discuss the car transparently without discovering an avoidable documentation discrepancy during handover.
After a purchase, compare the actual preparation with the assumptions used to choose it. That feedback helps refine future year preferences using your dealership's own experience. It does not establish a universal rule that newer or older CS75 vehicles are always better value; it improves the next VIN-specific decision.
Keep the enquiry flexible and testable
Describe the accepted age range and mandatory condition evidence, then state whether new vehicles, documented used vehicles or both may be considered. Give the sourcing team permission to present alternatives while preserving your inspection standard. Specify any condition that requires separate approval, such as a major component replacement.
Start through the dealer enquiry form with quantity and destination. Current availability is assessed against actual candidates. The useful outcome is a clear comparison of identity, condition and complete cost, with a documented reason for selecting the car that best fits your customers.
