There are 3 very important reasons why you should consider buying a used car. They are cheaper to buy, more affordable to maintain and have less depreciation. Used cars allow you to save a good amount of money which we all know can be put to more important things like sending the kids to university or paying your mortgage. However, because of the big rush on used cars these days things can go seriously wrong when you’re trying to purchase them, either online or offline. Here are very important tips for you to take note.
Have A Budget In Mind
The first thing you should do before making any moves to buy your used car is to decide on your budget and stick to it. This is what will guide you in making sure that you don’t get tempted to overspend. When deciding on your budget, make sure you include additional expenses like car insurance and registration. Once you have a budget the next thing is to do a bit of research. Looking for used cars online is a great idea since you’ll have access to a large variety of options, prices, brands and models at the same time. If you’re buying offline don’t settle for the first dealership you visit. Try a couple of dealers and compare prices before you make any final decision.
Find Out The Warranty
You have to determine the warranty time of the used car you want to buy. You can easily find this out by checking the driver side door, to know when the car was manufactured. Ask the salesman if the warranty is transferable to you. This is very important because some manufactures only respect first user warranty, while others will allow warranty be transferred up to the third user. Not just warranty but mileage too. Check the mileage and ensure that it does not exceed what you want. In theory, the more mileage the car has covered, the older it usually is. Another very important thing you should do is to meet the car seller in person and ask questions. Ask them how long they had the car, why they are selling it and try to find out if it has ever been damaged before.
Don’t Get Ripped Off
The oil cap of car says a lot about it. Before you buy any car make sure that you open the cap and check. Don’t buy any car, whose oil cap has a kind of caramel syrup or thick black sludge coming out of it. It means the car’s oil has not been changed. Checking the used car’s history is also very relevant. This will ensure that you’re not buying a car that has been written off, has an outstanding loan or had been stolen. To do this, get the car’s VIN number and check where it was registered. If you’re buying from an individual and not a dealer, never agree to meet them anywhere other than their home. Ensure the addresses correspond and that the odometer details are as advertised.
Know What To Look For
Check the car thoroughly and ask for a cold start. Do this in full daylight and not under the snow, rain or in the dark. Not even in the evening. Check everything on the car including the bonnet, under the car, the wheels and tires and the engine. Go to the front of the car and confirm if the car wheels align completely. Check inside the car and ensure that the seats, dashboard, seat belt, and car entertainment features are complete and well bolted. Cold starts allow you to detect if the car has any faults. Never buy any car with a loud scraping and cracking noise that will go away when it is completely warmed up.
Andy Burrows recently bought a used car and he made sure to meet with the seller and see it in person first. He even got a
car key cutting service to make sure there were no spares about.