How To Buy A Second Hand Car
Posted by Admin at 6 July 2013, at 08 : 12 AM
If you have finally decided to get a second hand car instead of getting a brand new one, you may be too eager to find car dealers near your place. However, before going out and looking for that car you have wanted, it is important to do some research. Do not even think about committing to a purchase until you have gone over the proper checks.
Indeed, you have to be properly prepared in buying a used car. A low price can be enticing but they often show that the owner wants to get it off their hands quickly, it up to you decide why that might be and whether you are willing to overlook any potential faults. What was once their frustration could potentially be yours, so take your time before buying.
There are many things to consider when buying a used car, but here are the most important.
Preparation
Make sure read reviews of both the dealer and the car. Assess what type of vehicle you need and also check the model and usability. Of course, you may want to do some comparing when it comes to features and models as well. Make sure you are aware of whetyher you will need to pick up the car yourself. Many sellers will not want to deal with courier companies themselves.
Ask for a HPI Check
By checking the car’s history records, you can check if the car has been damaged or has encountered accidents in the past. The general condition of the car will also be illuminated. The check will often be able to illuminate whether the car was either a rental car or even a overly used one. A HPI check will allow you to check the condition of the car without even seeing it in person, which can save you both time and money. Many issues that will not be visible to the untrained eye will be illuminated in the car’s history records.
Test drive
Test drive the vehicle to check its performance. You can always feel how the car runs and assess it according to your test driving experience. If the car doesn’t handle well during a test run you won’t want to drive it for years to come.
Check the condition
Remember to check the body of the car for little cracks and some hints that the odometer was tampered or some repainting jobs were done. There are many aspects to a car’s general condition, all of which can worsen over time – so make sure to pay attention to the smaller details as well. You do not want to find out that the car is a piece of junk as you drive away from the seller or dealer! You need to consider two things when checking the mileage of the car. It can be tricky because you do not want a car with either a very high mileage or a ridiculously low one. Odometers are not impossible to tamper with, and some dodgy salesmen do do it to make a quick sale.
Contrast the value to the price
Clearly, you can also use the price as an indication of the product and to check out the real condition of the vehicle. Although you are going for the used cars because you want to get a good buy, do not however buy the cheapest car. There will usually be a good reason why this car in particular is the cheapest.
It is also important to do your research and find out where you can buy the best used cars. Government auctions can actually be a surprising source of good quality second hand. These usually seized cars are still in good condition but are auctioned to the public in very affordable prices.
Advertisements are the most obvious source of used cars. The internet has transformed the second hand car industry and is a great place to compare loads of cars in a short period of time. Thousands of cars pass through and get bought on sites such as eBay Motors.