Checklist To Buying A Used Car Wisely

Many people can’t afford to buy a brand new car. Besides this, a lot of people don’t even have enough money to buy a used car. This is especially true for people in poor and even developing countries.

But we all know that when it comes to quality and reliability, nothing beats a brand new car. A used car, especially one that is very old, is just not reliable as compared to a brand new car. But despite this, there is a huge demand for used cars.

And we all know that a lot of used car salespersons and dealerships are taking advantage of this. In fact, used car salespersons are generally not perceived by the public as being trustworthy. This is the reason why you need to be careful and wise when buying a used car.

Here is a checklist on how to buy a used car wisely: The information in this article is based off my experiences sharing apartments with other people. —>

The Details:

1. Get Good Financing First

Computers and Cars are just some of the machines in our life that are best bought brand new. This is because they have moving and electrical parts that wore down eventually.

Even if you cannot afford to buy a brand new car, you should at least buy the newest car model that you can afford. Many used car buyers erroneously buy the cheapest used car that they can afford, thinking that they are making the best deal for themselves.

But only when their cheaply bought used car starts breaking down do they realize that buying the cheapest used car is not the best deal for them afterall. Usually, the newer a car is, the more expensive it is. This is because the newer it is, the more it tends to be more reliable.

You should buy the newest used car that you can afford. This might not necessarily involve buying it in cash, but buying it through financing.

Don’t think about getting a good deal on your used car first, because there’s always many good quality used cars available. Think of getting a good deal on your financing loan first. If you must, get advice from a decent finance professional first regarding your financing loan.

Also, the financing terms of banks and other lenders are usually better than financing from car salespersons and dealerships. This is another good reason why you should first make sure that you get a good financing term before you seek out to find good used car deal from car sellers.

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2. Do a Test Drive

This shouldn’t even be mentioned in this checklist because it is something so basic whether you’re buying a brand new or a used car, yet there are used car buyers who still don’t do this, and, even if they do this, they do it half-baked.

For example, used car buyers only test drive the used car on smooth surfaces, neglecting the fact that test driving on rough ground can reveal a lot about the condition of the used car’s suspensions.

Besides this, test driving a used car for longer distances can reveal a lot about the car’s engine. It could reveal that the engine is already worn down. Usually, the temperature gauge will indicate if the car’s engine tends to overheat.

A noisy interior while driving the used car can also indicate that the used car has been involved in a car crash or accident already and already had some or all of interiors replaced. Subtle signals like this when test driving it can indicate serious problems for you along the way.

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3. Have it Checked by a Mechanic

Cars are usually long term investments because people usually intend to use their car for a very long time. That’s why you need to be sure that the used car you’re buying would last a long time.

To do this, you need the help of a reputable mechanic. Unless you are an expert on cars yourself, you would definitely need the advice of a mechanic to tell you that the used car you’re buying would last a long time.

Also, mechanics have industry knowledge about the car industry. They can tell you what are the weak points of the used car you’re planning on buying, whether there are better used cars out there, whether the used car you’re intending to buy is expensive to maintain, and so on.

In short, you’re not just paying a mechanic to tell you if the used car you’re intending to buy is roadworthy, if you have a sympathetic mechanic with you, you’re actually paying them for their car wisdom.

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4. Negotiate by Phone First

While you might be tempted to personally inspect the used car that interests you that you found online or in the newspapers you read, control yourself and negotiate with the seller first either by phone or online.

The quality of your phone or online conversation with the seller could greatly indicate the tone of your negotiation with the seller. A seller who is hard to converse with by phone could prove to be a tough deal while a smooth conversation with a seller could prove to be a fruitful deal.

Usually, a motivated seller is willing to give concessions even before you personally meet them, while a disinterested seller might indicate that you are facing competition from other potential buyers, meaning that the seller has the upper hand on you.

Also, by first checking the condition of the used car by phone, you identify potential dealbreakers which might surface later. This saves you time from having to travel to personally see the used car you are intending to buy.

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5. Know The Seller’s Tricks

When buyers negotiate with sellers, both parties are locked in a game where each aim to outdo the other. Usually, it is the buyer who is at the losing end because the seller, in the form of salespersons/dealerships have already honed their selling game via repeat sales transactions.

But there are sellers who do underhanded tricks to get the upper hand on buyers. For example, they’ll thinly coat with new paint a used car to make it more glossy & new, and also to hide the rust.

Only after the used car has been bought and used by the buyer for a short time does the thin paint begins to fade to show the true condition of the exterior surface of the car. It is important to get the advice of a competent mechanic or expert who also knows about car paints.

Another trick of used car sellers would be to put a high markup on the used car they are selling, knowing that potential buyers would likely haggle with them to bring the price down.

They’ll pretend to give the buyer a huge discount, convincing a naive buyer that they are getting a good deal, when in reality, this is the plan of the used car seller all along: making the buyer pay at the price they really want.

Also, used car sellers know that sexy looking cars seduce buyers into buying them instead of the used car they originally wanted to buy. For example, a seller may tempt a buyer to buy a sports car when they originally planned to buy a cheap family car. Beware of this trick.

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6. Get a Vehicle History Report

Not many car owners keep a detailed vehicle history report. From accident reports to maintenance reports, there are just car owners who take good care of their cars including their history reports.

Used cars who still have these well kept records is usually a good indication that the used car being sold is well taken care of. It might also indicate that the used car owner is a careful driver.

Depending on your country like the US, there might be online sites that can help you retrieve a car’s history report. All you have to do for example, is to enter the car’s VIN number and the site would give you a report regarding the car’s history.

For example, if you are an American you can Google Search the search term” “vehicle history check free“ and there would be US based sites that would show you an online report regarding a US car’s history.

Knowing a car’s history is a good aid for you in negotiating the price of a used car you’re intending to buy.

For example, if the used car you’re intending to buy has been involved in a car crash/accident and has been heavily repaired, this could be a reason for you to bring the price of the used car even further down during negotiations with the seller.

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Final Words

If people had enough money, they would definitely buy a brand new car rather than a used car. But this is not the case for many people. Usually, finances are the main reason why people buy used cars.

This is the reason why there is a huge demand for used cars, and used car salespersons and dealerships are taking advantage of this situation. They know that most used car buyers don’t have much experience buying cars, and can easily be tricked into lopsided sales contracts.

Used car buyers must ensure that they good financing terms, ensure with the help of a mechanic that the used car is roadworthy, do phone checks before even checking out the used car physically, and to be aware that there are sellers who would use underhanded tricks.

But most of all, ensure that you are dealing with reputable financiers, sellers, dealerships and mechanics. Don’t just research the used car you are intending to buy, also research all the parties involved with the used car’s sale.

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