Just a few years later (3-6) the car will be worth only half of its original price, while by the time it is 10 years old it will cost only 20 percent of this amount. Sure, a decade is not a short time-span, but a high-quality car can be equally as functional even 15 years after it was made.
Nonetheless, there are some things you simply must check before buying a used car and here are six of them.
Every once in a while, you will encounter an offer you simply won’t be able to say no to. Imagine a scenario where you get an insanely low offer for a car you always dreamed of having.
The first thing you want to do before closing a purchase is check vehicle’s history report. This is a fairly easy thing to do and it reveals to you whether or not the car has been in any accidents or if it was subjected to things like flood damage.
With the right angle, lens, light and a bit of work on a Photoshop, any car can look amazing. In person, it is much harder to hide some of the vehicle’s obvious flaws.
Another thing you want to do when buying a used car is speak to the owner in person. Sure, fabricating certain facts and concealing truths is easy to do on paper (or on the internet), but something much harder to pull off in person.
Probably the most important step of them all is taking a car for a test drive. The car may look great on paper, but the way it behaves you are driving it is what really matters.
Last, but in no way least important, in some situations, the vehicle you are intending to buy is still covered by a warranty.
The best thing about the above mentioned six tips is that they can be all performed in a matter of minutes and hours, rather than days.
1. Consult Your Budget
Every once in a while, you will encounter an offer you simply won’t be able to say no to. Imagine a scenario where you get an insanely low offer for a car you always dreamed of having.
On one hand, you can’t put a price tag on a dream, but at the same time, the amount may still be too much for your budget. Sure, sometimes undergoing a bit of austerity is worth it if it means getting what you always wanted, but sometimes it will still be too much for your budget in the long-run.
2. Run the Report History
The first thing you want to do before closing a purchase is check vehicle’s history report. This is a fairly easy thing to do and it reveals to you whether or not the car has been in any accidents or if it was subjected to things like flood damage.
In order to do this, however, you will have to find its identification number. Another thing you can learn this way is if the odometer has been rolled back in order to boost the price.
3. Check It out in Person
With the right angle, lens, light and a bit of work on a Photoshop, any car can look amazing. In person, it is much harder to hide some of the vehicle’s obvious flaws.
Even as a layman you will be able to clearly see rust and tear marks, but it is usually much more efficient to bring a mechanic from a trusted auto service to do an inspection.
No camouflage methods will be able to trick a professional and although they work for a fee, it is a small price to pay when compared to buying a faulty car.
4. Talk to the Owner
Another thing you want to do when buying a used car is speak to the owner in person. Sure, fabricating certain facts and concealing truths is easy to do on paper (or on the internet), but something much harder to pull off in person.
You need to start with some basic questions like were they the first owner of the vehicle and why are they selling it in the first place. While this may seem as something too basic to actually be effective, you would be surprised with the amount of honesty you may encounter.
5. Going for a test drive
Probably the most important step of them all is taking a car for a test drive. The car may look great on paper, but the way it behaves you are driving it is what really matters.
While driving, make sure to drive as unorthodox as possible (of course, without putting yourself or others in danger while doing so). You need to try breaking, turning sharply and even drifting a bit.
For safety reasons, it would be best to go someplace remote, without a lot of traffic.
6. Transferable Warranty Can Be a Deal-Breaker
Last, but in no way least important, in some situations, the vehicle you are intending to buy is still covered by a warranty.
If that is the case, you will probably have the option of transferring it to yourself. In this way, you will be able to save a small fortune on future repairs.
In Conclusion
The best thing about the above mentioned six tips is that they can be all performed in a matter of minutes and hours, rather than days.
Seeing how there are not many expenses greater than vehicle purchase, any effort invested in protecting your finances is always more than worth it.
Author bio: Steven Clarke is a business consultant/web entrepreneur, also passionate about cars. In his spare time he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.
Author bio: Steven Clarke is a business consultant/web entrepreneur, also passionate about cars. In his spare time he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.
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