Used cars, even those which are less than 12 months old, will be much less expensive to buy than a new model.
However, because the car has been owned and driven by somebody else, there is some advice you should follow to avoid the pitfalls of buying a used car.
If you’ve found a used car, whether from a private buyer or a reputable dealership (always use a trusted dealership if buying from one), the next step is viewing it before agreeing a deal.
Below is some advice about how to buy a used car.
Viewing the car
In an ideal situation, you will take along an expert to a viewing of a used car. This applies to both dealerships and private sellers.
At the very least, it is important to never go alone, particularly to private buyers. It is also important to view the car at the sellers address during daylight.
This will help you determine if the car is actually owned by the person selling it and the address on the V5C.
Plus, viewing a car in daylight will make it easier to spot any defects with the body work or interior.
When viewing the car, there are a number of things to check:
Body panels – are they in good condition? Check for rust and any signs they have been repaired. This may indicate the car has been in an accident.
Paint – check for variations in colour or patchy paintwork.
Rust – Check sills, wheel arches and the bottom of doors, where rust is more likely to be found.
Tyres – worn and damaged tyres can be illegal. Check tread depth using the 20p test.
Seat belts – check for worn or faulty seatbelts.
Electrics – do all the lights and dashboard warning lights work?
An honest seller should point out any defects with the car. If you find a problem but are still interested in the car, these can be used to re-negotiate the price.
Test drive
If you’re happy with the car after looking over it, it is time to take it out for a test drive. The test drive can reveal many things about a car which may go undiscovered if it is not driven, therefore it is highly recommended to take it out before buying the car.
When test driving the car, it is also an ideal opportunity to ask the owner or dealership representative any questions you may have.
When test driving the car, pay attention to the following:
Brakes – do they work properly? Does the car pull to one side when braking? Is there excessive squeaking? It is also important to check the hand brake works.
Clutch – does the clutch grab or slip?
Steering – a shaking or vibrating steering wheel could indicate problems which could be expensive to fix
Engine – does the engine sound ok? Does it sound different if the clutch is pressed or when the car is idling?
Noises – are there any other unusual noises such as rattling? It could signal wider problems with the car.
Smell – if the car smells strongly of petrol or oil, it could signify leaks, which could be expensive to repair.
After the test drive, check to see if there are any leaks or excessive smoke from the exhaust by letting the engine idle.
Before buying
Even if you are buying from a used car dealer, you must always check the registration document – or V5C – before buying. If the car doesn’t have a V5C, or the seller says it has been sent away somewhere, walk away from the deal.
Check the V5C to see if it is real. It should have a watermark, seller’s name and address, number plate, engine number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For more information on the V5C, take a look at our guide to the V5C.
If you are satisfied the V5C is correct and hasn’t been tampered with in any way, there is one more check you should do.
All cars should have a history check before buying. This includes an HPI check, which can tell you the car’s history including any accidents and repairs or if there is outstanding finance on the car.
A history check will help you avoid the following pitfalls when buying a new car:
Clocking – This is when a car has been tampered with to lower the mileage shown on the mileometer to increase the price. This can be checked by looking for signs of tampering and checking the mileage against the MOT certificate, latest service documentation and previous owners.
Cut and shut – This can be an extremely dangerous situation. It involves ‘repairing’ a car which has been deemed unsafe or even welding two different cars together and selling it on.
This can be dangerous because repairs can often be unsafe and endanger the structural integrity of the car. Check for signs of repair work and always check the VIN numbers on the engine and chassis to see if they match the V5C.
More information on checking a car for signs of cut 'n' shut.
Outstanding finance – If a car is bought on finance, the car is essentially owned by the finance company until the last payment is paid off. If a car is sold on without the new owner being aware of outstanding finance, they are liable to pay it off or risk losing the car and their original payment for the car.
An HPI check will notify you if the car has outstanding finance and help you avoid some of the other scams based around buying a used car.
As always, our advice is to walk away if something seems suspicious or if it is too good to be true.
It also makes things easier if you visit a reputable dealer such as Perrys. As part of the Perrys promise, all used cars bought through a Perrys dealership are extensively checked for safety, outstanding finance or adverse history and mileage.
If you’re looking for a used car, why not take a look at our guide to used cars, listing some of the best used cars on the market today.
Article Credit: www.perrys.co.uk
Used Cars Houston
However, because the car has been owned and driven by somebody else, there is some advice you should follow to avoid the pitfalls of buying a used car.
If you’ve found a used car, whether from a private buyer or a reputable dealership (always use a trusted dealership if buying from one), the next step is viewing it before agreeing a deal.
Below is some advice about how to buy a used car.
Viewing the car
In an ideal situation, you will take along an expert to a viewing of a used car. This applies to both dealerships and private sellers.
At the very least, it is important to never go alone, particularly to private buyers. It is also important to view the car at the sellers address during daylight.
This will help you determine if the car is actually owned by the person selling it and the address on the V5C.
Plus, viewing a car in daylight will make it easier to spot any defects with the body work or interior.
When viewing the car, there are a number of things to check:
Body panels – are they in good condition? Check for rust and any signs they have been repaired. This may indicate the car has been in an accident.
Paint – check for variations in colour or patchy paintwork.
Rust – Check sills, wheel arches and the bottom of doors, where rust is more likely to be found.
Tyres – worn and damaged tyres can be illegal. Check tread depth using the 20p test.
Seat belts – check for worn or faulty seatbelts.
Electrics – do all the lights and dashboard warning lights work?
An honest seller should point out any defects with the car. If you find a problem but are still interested in the car, these can be used to re-negotiate the price.
Test drive
If you’re happy with the car after looking over it, it is time to take it out for a test drive. The test drive can reveal many things about a car which may go undiscovered if it is not driven, therefore it is highly recommended to take it out before buying the car.
When test driving the car, it is also an ideal opportunity to ask the owner or dealership representative any questions you may have.
When test driving the car, pay attention to the following:
Brakes – do they work properly? Does the car pull to one side when braking? Is there excessive squeaking? It is also important to check the hand brake works.
Clutch – does the clutch grab or slip?
Steering – a shaking or vibrating steering wheel could indicate problems which could be expensive to fix
Engine – does the engine sound ok? Does it sound different if the clutch is pressed or when the car is idling?
Noises – are there any other unusual noises such as rattling? It could signal wider problems with the car.
Smell – if the car smells strongly of petrol or oil, it could signify leaks, which could be expensive to repair.
After the test drive, check to see if there are any leaks or excessive smoke from the exhaust by letting the engine idle.
Before buying
Even if you are buying from a used car dealer, you must always check the registration document – or V5C – before buying. If the car doesn’t have a V5C, or the seller says it has been sent away somewhere, walk away from the deal.
Check the V5C to see if it is real. It should have a watermark, seller’s name and address, number plate, engine number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For more information on the V5C, take a look at our guide to the V5C.
If you are satisfied the V5C is correct and hasn’t been tampered with in any way, there is one more check you should do.
All cars should have a history check before buying. This includes an HPI check, which can tell you the car’s history including any accidents and repairs or if there is outstanding finance on the car.
A history check will help you avoid the following pitfalls when buying a new car:
Clocking – This is when a car has been tampered with to lower the mileage shown on the mileometer to increase the price. This can be checked by looking for signs of tampering and checking the mileage against the MOT certificate, latest service documentation and previous owners.
Cut and shut – This can be an extremely dangerous situation. It involves ‘repairing’ a car which has been deemed unsafe or even welding two different cars together and selling it on.
This can be dangerous because repairs can often be unsafe and endanger the structural integrity of the car. Check for signs of repair work and always check the VIN numbers on the engine and chassis to see if they match the V5C.
More information on checking a car for signs of cut 'n' shut.
Outstanding finance – If a car is bought on finance, the car is essentially owned by the finance company until the last payment is paid off. If a car is sold on without the new owner being aware of outstanding finance, they are liable to pay it off or risk losing the car and their original payment for the car.
An HPI check will notify you if the car has outstanding finance and help you avoid some of the other scams based around buying a used car.
As always, our advice is to walk away if something seems suspicious or if it is too good to be true.
It also makes things easier if you visit a reputable dealer such as Perrys. As part of the Perrys promise, all used cars bought through a Perrys dealership are extensively checked for safety, outstanding finance or adverse history and mileage.
If you’re looking for a used car, why not take a look at our guide to used cars, listing some of the best used cars on the market today.
Article Credit: www.perrys.co.uk
Used Cars Houston
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