10 Smart Practices To Follow When Buying A Used Car
Purchasing a used car comes with many risks. The vehicle may not be well-maintained by the previous owner. The vehicle might have been involved in a major accident or the odometer might have been rolled backwards to show low mileage. There might be hidden damages that the seller is not telling you about. Deciding whether a second hand car is a good buy, or not is often difficult, especially for those who don't know much about vehicles.
To help you decide if the used car you are looking at is reliable and worth every bit of your hard-earned money, here are 10 smart practices to observe.
Do check that the engine number on the vehicle is the same as the engine number provided in the registration documents. Make sure that it has not been tampered with or changed.
Do check the bodywork in good light. Inspect the used car for any signs of corrosion or rust, as rust poses a lot of damage on cars over 5 years old. Check for rust blemish on the paintwork as this can indicate more serious corrosion underneath. Repairing rust on a vehicle is usually expensive. It is only done by specialists and the new paint work needed after the repair is costly.
Do check for collision damage. A car that has been involved in a major accident, especially one that involves a frontal collision, can be dangerous. A major accident may have caused damage to the vehicle's suspension and steering and may cause further problems for you. It would be wise to not buy a used car that has been involved in an accident.
Do check the odometer. The mileage may have been altered if the numbers are out of line. Also check if the mileage corresponds to the overall condition of the car. Worn brake pedals and wear marks on the gear lever may indicate high mileage.
Don't buy a car just because its exterior looks good. Remember that a used car may hide damages that will aggravate you later on. Check the car's history records to make sure that it has been well-maintained. Ask for its service and repair history as well. It would also be helpful to have a trusted and experienced mechanic to inspect the general condition of the vehicle.
Do take the car for a test drive. This allows you to check if the car has transmission or suspension problems. It would also be helpful to see how the used car will perform in different driving conditions e.g. fast motor driving, slow urban driving and twisting roads. Don't forget to check reverse gear.
Do check the tyres. There should be more than 2mm of tread all over the tyres and the sidewalls should not show cracks or damage. Uneven wear on tyres suggest steering, tracking or suspension problems.
Do check the brakes. The pedals should give good resistance and not sink to the floor when stepped on.
Don't buy a car that has any damage no matter how minor it is. A minor damage can turn to a huge repair cost later on.
Finally, don't buy a second hand car if you have hesitations about it. If you think the engine is too noisy, if the ride is too bumpy, if more work needs to be done on the vehicle or if you're not happy with the paperwork, then it's best to move on. Don't make a purchase you're not completely happy about.
To help you decide if the used car you are looking at is reliable and worth every bit of your hard-earned money, here are 10 smart practices to observe.
Do check that the engine number on the vehicle is the same as the engine number provided in the registration documents. Make sure that it has not been tampered with or changed.
Do check the bodywork in good light. Inspect the used car for any signs of corrosion or rust, as rust poses a lot of damage on cars over 5 years old. Check for rust blemish on the paintwork as this can indicate more serious corrosion underneath. Repairing rust on a vehicle is usually expensive. It is only done by specialists and the new paint work needed after the repair is costly.
Do check for collision damage. A car that has been involved in a major accident, especially one that involves a frontal collision, can be dangerous. A major accident may have caused damage to the vehicle's suspension and steering and may cause further problems for you. It would be wise to not buy a used car that has been involved in an accident.
Do check the odometer. The mileage may have been altered if the numbers are out of line. Also check if the mileage corresponds to the overall condition of the car. Worn brake pedals and wear marks on the gear lever may indicate high mileage.
Don't buy a car just because its exterior looks good. Remember that a used car may hide damages that will aggravate you later on. Check the car's history records to make sure that it has been well-maintained. Ask for its service and repair history as well. It would also be helpful to have a trusted and experienced mechanic to inspect the general condition of the vehicle.
Do take the car for a test drive. This allows you to check if the car has transmission or suspension problems. It would also be helpful to see how the used car will perform in different driving conditions e.g. fast motor driving, slow urban driving and twisting roads. Don't forget to check reverse gear.
Do check the tyres. There should be more than 2mm of tread all over the tyres and the sidewalls should not show cracks or damage. Uneven wear on tyres suggest steering, tracking or suspension problems.
Do check the brakes. The pedals should give good resistance and not sink to the floor when stepped on.
Don't buy a car that has any damage no matter how minor it is. A minor damage can turn to a huge repair cost later on.
Finally, don't buy a second hand car if you have hesitations about it. If you think the engine is too noisy, if the ride is too bumpy, if more work needs to be done on the vehicle or if you're not happy with the paperwork, then it's best to move on. Don't make a purchase you're not completely happy about.
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