Buying a Car: Expressions
Provkörning, servicebok, i befintligt skick — buying used in Sweden.
Buying a used car in Sweden, deal by deal: decoding the ad (en ägare från ny, i befintligt skick — beware), the registry homework (belånad? obetald skatt?), the test drive with the radio off, the köpbesiktning at a neutral workshop (walk away if they refuse), the handshake and the digital ägarbyte — and the verdict only time delivers: fynd eller misstag.
- 1
en begagnad bil
a used car
Tip: lit. the same — how most Swedes buy.
- 2
privatköp
a private sale
Tip: lit. the same — fewer rights than buying from a dealer.
- 3
i befintligt skick
sold as seen
Tip: lit. 'in existing condition' — the clause to look out for.
- 4
en ägare från ny
one careful owner
Tip: lit. 'one owner from new'.
- 5
miltalet
the mileage
Tip: lit. 'the mil figure' — Swedes count in mil, ten kilometres each.
- 6
tolvtusen mil på mätaren
twelve thousand mil on the clock
Tip: lit. the same — that's 120,000 km.
- 7
vinterdäck ingår
winter tyres included
Tip: lit. the same — a real selling point.
- 8
serviceboken
the service history
Tip: lit. 'the service book' — a full one adds real value.
- 9
komplett servicehistorik
a full service record
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
kolla i bilregistret
to check the vehicle register
Tip: lit. the same — for debts and history.
- 11
en bilhistorikkontroll
a vehicle history check
Tip: lit. the same — worth the small fee.
- 12
slå upp regnumret
to look it up by registration
Tip: lit. the same — free at Transportstyrelsen.
- 13
antal tidigare ägare
the number of previous owners
Tip: lit. the same.
- 14
obetald fordonsskatt
outstanding vehicle tax
Tip: lit. the same — it follows the car.
- 15
bilen är belånad
the car is on finance
Tip: lit. 'the car is mortgaged' — check before you pay.
- 16
en importerad bil
an imported vehicle
Tip: lit. the same — check why.
- 17
en reparerad skadebil
a written-off car repaired
Tip: lit. the same — a red flag.
- 18
en leasingretur
a leasing return
Tip: lit. the same — often well serviced.
- 19
en demobil
a demonstrator
Tip: lit. the same.
- 20
en provkörning
a test drive
Tip: lit. the same.
- 21
ta en sväng
to take it for a spin
Tip: lit. 'take a turn'.
- 22
provköra på motorväg också
to test drive on the motorway too
Tip: lit. the same — not just round the block.
- 23
lyssna med radion avstängd
to listen with the radio off
Tip: lit. the same.
- 24
en köpbesiktning
a pre-purchase inspection
Tip: lit. the same — a few hundred kronor, well spent.
- 25
på en neutral verkstad
at a neutral workshop
Tip: lit. the same — not the seller's.
- 26
gå därifrån om de vägrar
to walk away if refused
Tip: lit. the same — the clearest signal there is.
- 27
besiktningen
the annual inspection
Tip: lit. the same.
- 28
den blev underkänd på besiktningen
it failed the inspection
Tip: lit. the same.
- 29
rost undertill
rust underneath
Tip: lit. the same — check it, it's Sweden.
- 30
pruta på priset
to negotiate the price
Tip: lit. the same — expected in a private sale.
- 31
mitt sista bud
my final offer
Tip: lit. the same.
- 32
ta i hand på det
to shake on it
Tip: lit. 'take by hand on it'.
- 33
ett skriftligt köpekontrakt
a written contract
Tip: lit. the same — always.
- 34
kontantköp
a cash sale
Tip: lit. the same.
- 35
inbyte
a part exchange
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
ordna finansiering
to arrange finance
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
effektiv ränta
the effective interest rate
Tip: lit. the same — the number that matters.
- 38
ett restvärde
a residual value
Tip: lit. the same.
- 39
privatleasing
a private lease
Tip: lit. the same — increasingly common.
- 40
en milbegränsning
a mileage limit
Tip: lit. the same — and a charge if you exceed it.
- 41
göra ägarbyte digitalt
to change ownership online
Tip: lit. the same — with BankID, in a minute.
- 42
försäkra den innan du kör
to insure it before you drive
Tip: lit. the same — legally required.
- 43
den går som en dröm
it drives beautifully
Tip: lit. 'it runs like a dream'.
- 44
ångra köpet
buyer's remorse
Tip: lit. 'regret the purchase'.
- 45
ett fynd eller ett misstag
a bargain or a mistake
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
tiden får utvisa
time will tell
Tip: lit. 'the time will show'.
- 47
lita på magkänslan
to trust your instinct
Tip: lit. the same.