The things you should avoid when buying a used Car

People make mistakes when they buy a used car. These mistakes can be anything from buying an overpriced car to ending up with a car that requires a lot of work. Ideally, you would want to avoid all the mistakes to get the best deals. All you have to do is do some research, completely read this article, and then start the hunt. But before embarking on a journey to buy a used car, you should set some priorities.

Have three priorities straight

1- First, determine why you need a car. Is it for a need or a desire? Then make a plan how you are going to pay. Don’t mix up fantasies with needs and don’t rush in without a decided plan on how to pay. Be very objective. Salesmen and old car dealers just want to sell you a car as quickly as possible without telling you the faults it has or might develop quickly. They will not tell you what to check for when buying a used car. This you have to do yourself and thoroughly.

2- How are you going to pay? If it’s for a need, then going for an installment plan is worth considering.  Calculate if the price of the car plus total interest to be paid, plus all other expenditures incurred. If it’s for a desire, then save up first and then buy the used car you want.

3- Negotiate a good deal. One way to go about it is closing the deal right when you decided on a car. Just on the spot buying the car will give you the edge to negotiate a favorable price for you. This will make the used car dealer or private seller eager to close the deal more quickly. But before you negotiate, make sure to read the article completely.

How old is the car and how has it been used?

When exploring what to look for when buying a used car, you should avoid the mistake of not confirming how old the car is or what it was used for. Know the mileage and usage of the car. A 10,000 mileage is just not a good indicator that the car is in good condition. Maybe it was a fleet car for a rental company. People who rent cars usually drive the rental cars roughly, which damages the car and weakens its parts a lot. Again a car with a lot of mileage on it, let’s say a 100,000, may turn out to be a good option for you if it has been driven carefully and the owner has performed regular maintenance. So always try to check out a used car’s mileage reading and how it was used.

Go for a test drive

Take the car for a test drive to find out if it is comfortable or not? Try to determine if the legroom is adequate or not. If you find anything negative, then you can negotiate in a better way. But at the same time, these can become reasons not to buy the car too. That’s what you should do with several used cars before deciding to check out a car you like more thoroughly. First determine if the car is right for you or not, and then you can move to the next step.

An inspection by a mechanic

Once you have shortlisted two or three used cars, then find a good and reliable mechanic who can perform the mechanical inspection and tell you if there’s anything wrong with the car. The mechanic may charge you for the services, but in the long run it is going to be beneficial for you. If a mechanic says that the car has no mechanical fault, then go ahead and buy that.

Don’t forget to show your mechanic the vehicle’s history report. The report will tell the mechanic about the repairs, accidents and number of owners the vehicle has had. This will allow you to take an informed decision. But don’t just yet close the deal, as there’s one more aspect you need to explore.

Does it have a warranty/insurance

If the used car you are planning to buy comes with a warranty or insurance, then it’s a plus point to the seller. If it does not; you might get the price down a little bit more when you start negotiating the final price for the vehicle.

Final Word

We hope you now know what to look for when buying a used car. We advise buyers to thoroughly check out all available sources concerning the purchase of used cars as there are a lot of sellers that just want to get rid of their vehicles and make a fast buck. So be on your guard and plan well before buying a used car.