How To Know If That Used Car Is The Real Deal
The second-hand market can offer fantastic value if you are looking for a car. However, you need to exercise caution to get the best possible deal for your specific needs. In my latest article, I suggest a handful of principles you should follow. Carry on reading for more.
During your search for a new vehicle and to avoid severe depreciation of value, you need to choose from the widest range of cars available and ensure the asking price is as low as possible. In the following points, I will offer top tips to help you throughout this process.
Verify The Vehicle’s History
Looking into a vehicle’s past can provide useful clues to what the future may hold. If you look through a car’s history and discover a pattern of neglect (or even worse!), you will likely want to walk away from the deal (or ask for a big discount!).
During this process, you need to look for any signs that the car has been stolen or severely damaged. Another key area is to look into the vehicle’s financial background. If there is outstanding finance for the car, a third party may have the legal right to take possession.
Finally, an MOT check is essential for older vehicles, helping you verify their long-term condition.
Inspect For Signs Of Mileage Tampering
When shopping for a car, you need to be mindful of unscrupulous sellers. For example, the odometer can be tampered with (giving off the impression that it has driven fewer miles than it really has). This practice (known as ‘clocking’) can massively lower the car’s value, which can be critical when you come to sell it later on down the line.
If you are worried about this potential issue, you can check for clocking symptoms by observing the car’s interior for wear and tear. Check the steering wheel, seats, and pedals—if they look highly worn but the odometer tells otherwise, then it is advisable to dig deeper!
Conduct A Thorough Physical Inspection
Remember that you need to examine the vehicle beyond the driver’s seat. Look for rust, mismatched paint, and tyre wear. If you notice that the car shows signs of neglect, it is more than likely that other (less superficial) problems are secretly lurking behind the scenes!
Examine the wipers, lights, and air conditioning systems. A test drive will help you spot issues with the handling or gearbox. Additionally, if you notice any unexplained noises and smells, it could be further evidence that something is not ‘quite right’ with the vehicle’s health.
Be Aware Of Common Scams
Unfortunately, there is a large number of scammers working in the used car market. If you buy directly from someone who claims to be the previous owner, you are particularly vulnerable to criminal activity.
Even though the internet is an amazing invention, it has many downsides (especially in the second-hand car industry). For example, you must be wary of fake listings, cloned vehicles and even payment fraud.
As a general rule of thumb, adhere to these simple principles: meet the seller in person, verify their identity, and crucially, if the deal is too good to be true, then it is wise to walk away from it.
Your dream car is out there; just keep looking until you are satisfied that you are buying from a legitimate seller and the vehicle is in tip-top shape.
If you enjoyed reading my latest vehicle article, please remember to check back for regular new content.
