Buying a car is with out doubt one of the most expensive purchases that people make. It can be unclear to know where to start when you’re looking for a used car and how much money you need to spend to get the best deal. To help simplify this process, we’ve put together ten steps that will lead you towards your first purchase!
1. Make sure a trader is trustworthy.
Find a reputable trader by asking friends or family for recommendations, checking reviews online and reading customer feedback. When you’ve found a reliable dealer, smooth the way with your first purchase by visiting them in person to establish rapport before making any transactions!
2. Check a car’s service history
Simply checking the service history will give you a good idea of how much the vehicle has been used and whether it’s had regular maintenance.
If they haven’t serviced the vehicle regularly, there may be problems lurking in the engine or beneath other panels that you can’t see immediately. The cost of repair could end up being higher than what you paid for your new wheels!
Ask these questions to avoid any surprises later on: when did this car last have its change oil? Has it ever needed repairs done before? What were these repairs? Where is the vehicle currently based so I can come to inspect it myself if need be? These are all critical questions that will help keep things amicable between both parties. You don’t want to get into an argument.
3. Inspect the car and take a test drive
Inspect the interior and exterior of the car, paying close attention to any scratches or dents. Check all panels for rust as well as undercarriage components such as exhausts and brakes.
Take it for a test drive around the block to check that no strange noises are coming from the engine or steering wheel; make sure everything feels safe and secure when you brake at high speeds. Get an expert’s opinion if anything seems amiss! lift the bonnet to see if the engine is in good condition, look for oil leaks, the condition of the auxiliary belts.
4. If you’re still not sure – get an independent report
If you’re still not sure, get an independent report from a car mechanic. There are plenty of these online resources to find out about any potential problems with the car’s history. The good thing about having a mechanic look over it is that they also give you an opinion on the car’s condition.
The mechanic is one of your best allies when it comes to buying a used vehicle, so make sure that he or she agrees with what you are looking for in terms of engine capacity and other features. If not, there’s no point going any further as this might end up costing you way more down the line. Thats why companies like Sovereign Motor Engineers who are a used car dealer in Tonbridge, will get every car and put it into the car garage to be checked over.
5. Check the car’s details with the DVLA
This is a critical step, as you want to make sure that the car is not stolen and has not been written off following an accident.
If there are any problems with the vehicle’s status with DVLA, it’s best to walk away.
You can log on to their website, where they have a database of all vehicles registered in your area and search through them using various filters such as engine size or colour. It will also give you the infomation if the car was involved in an accident, which means that you must carefully consider whether this is worth investing in at all costs (you might get better-used cars for cheaper).
6. Check the MOT and history
Check the history for the car’s MOT, as this will be a good indicator of the vehicle’s general condition. In addition to checking for any repairs that may have been carried out on it, you can also search through them using various engine size or colour filters.
If there are no recorded faults, this could show that they were merely regular maintenance checks that are not bad at all! It could mean that the person has taken great care in maintaining their vehicle.
The benefit of doing your research now is so when you go into see a seller, whether privately or from a used car dealer, they won’t be able to pull the wool over your eyes with minor scratches and little niggles because you know what to look for!
7. Why buying from a Used car dealer is better
Used car dealers will offer you a warranty that is at least as good as the new car dealer, and in some cases, they can provide more. When buying from private sellers, it can be difficult for them to give this type of safety net if something was found wrong with the vehicle after-sale or repair has been carried out on their behalf. A used car dealer will give you three months warranty as standard, so you are covered for any major mechanical failure, which you won’t get from a private seller.
The more time you spend on this research and the clearer your idea of what car best suits your needs, the easier it will be to make an informed decision. And while many things can affect a sale price, one thing is for sure-when buyers have all the information available before they buy. Everyone benefits from better deals. what tip has helped you the most