There are no hard and fast rules for buying a used car, but if you want to get the best possible deal for your money, and you want to avoid falling victim to frauds, you’ll need to be very careful when parting with your cash. You see, although you might well be an honest person, the same can’t be said for everyone, which is precisely why I’ve chosen to write this article today. I’ve been purchasing my cars second hand for a long time, and so I’ve got to learn about common issues and lies frequently told to buyers. With that in mind, spend the next few minutes reading through all the information in this post, and you should come away with a better understanding of how to make sure you don’t get ripped off.
I actually bought an amazing 2004 Mazda MX-5 last week, and through following my own advice I got a brilliant deal. You could easily achieve the same if you pay attention to all the points I’m about to make. So, without any further delays, here are 4 tips for people buying a used car this summer.
1. Do Your Research
The best way to avoid losing out is to spend some time researching your model of choice. That way; you should know enough about it to spot when something is wrong. Also, researching the model will mean that you’re more aware of how much it’s worth, and so in a much better position to haggle and get the price down.
It’s vitally important that you take any used car you consider purchasing for a test drive. Don’t let the current owner convince you it’s better for them to drive, as they could be hiding something. Even so, you probably don’t need to go too far. Just take it out for twenty minutes or so, as this should give you a good idea about the engine quality, and any issues that may not have been mentioned.
3. Check The Mileage
Though you probably don’t like to think it, some people will alter the clock on a used car to make it look like it has done fewer miles. While this is a bit of a pain, you can usually work out when this has occurred based on information found in the service history and the logbook. If you get the impression the seller is being sneaky with you, just bring it up and tell them straight. You never know, there might be a rational explanation for the low mileage.
4. Order A HPI Check
Luckily, you can get one of these nowadays in seconds with the use of a smartphone app, so make sure you don’t forget. A HPI check will tell you whether or not the car has any outstanding finance or if it has been written off in the past. It will also let you know if the model has been reported stolen, so it’s really not worth overlooking this.
So long as you follow all that advice and keep your wits about you, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t find the perfect used car this summer. Just don’t rush into anything, and always perform the checks!
See you next time!
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