Buying a Used Car: Top Ten Tips

Buying a Used Car: Top Ten Tips

When buying a used car, it can be tricky to make sure you are getting the car that is high quality and a great price, to ensure that you can find a car that is right for you, we have 10 tips that you should consider when buying a used car.

Take a look in the day

Always take a look at a car in the daylight, this means that you can see everything, all details stand out and by seeing all of the car clearly you can make the right decision knowing you have seen all it has to offer, inside and out.

Check Tires

The tires are the things that keep the car connected to the road underneath so of course it is important to check them, make sure to check that the tires are wearing evenly; if they aren’t it could mean that there is bad alignment which may occur in a cost down the line to fix.

Engine Bay

First of all, make sure the engine is OFF and has been for at least 5 minutes. The engine is the heart of your car, it keeps the car moving and without it you’d just have a pile of useless metal. When in the engine bay check things like the brake fluid, oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze & coolant, they should all be above the minimum line and most will have a max line that they shouldn’t exceed too. These checks should be done regularly when buying a used car or even maintaining a car you already own, while in the engine bay check the belts make sure they’re in good condition and check for corrosion and rust which will help you identify if the car has any problems and means you will make a better decision on price and purchase.

Aesthetics

Take a look around the car and make sure everything matches up and be aware of any dents, marks or scratches, they will help you identify any problems with the car and although age related marks are common you might spot something that doesn’t seem right possibly from if the car has been in an accident.

Vehicle History Report

A vehicle history report or HPI check should be carried out if you are serious about buying the car, the check returns information about the mainly if it has outstanding finance or if it has been written off, stolen or clocked. It is important to do this mainly to give you complete piece of mind that the car you’re buying is as described. Although most HPI checks aren’t free they are worth paying the small price that could save you a lot of trouble.

Consumer Reviews

Check online for review about the vehicle you are looking to buy, the people leaving reviews about this car can tell you the good and the bad without sugar coating it, you will find out from their experiences of living with the car if it is the right one for you or if you should be looking at other makes and models.

Certified Pre-Owned Cars

Using a dealership to purchase a used car is a much safer option than a private sale, they may cost more but they are much safer and more reliable. The dealership has checked the cars themselves which saves you the hassle, time and money of doing so, also the dealership will only be purchasing/part exchanging with a used car if they know it is in a suitable condition to be sold on. Overall dealerships are much safer and more reliable and it makes it much easier to return in the future if any problems occur with the car you have purchased.

Listen for Noises

Listening out for strange noises and knocks can actually help a lot, if there is something wrong with the car it will tell you by either lighting up on the dashboard or making a strange noise. If you hear anything you are unsure about then you should explain to the owner/dealer and walk away from that car, always stick with your gut because it’s hardly ever wrong.

Test Drive

When taking the car on a test drive you want to make sure you get a feel of it because if you make the purchase then it will be the car you’re stuck with so you want to make sure you enjoy driving it and it is ok for you. While doing the test drive explain to the seller that you need to check the brakes by doing an emergency stop because the last thing you want is your brakes failing in an emergency, the car may make a noise when driving the car compared to idling so listen out for noises on the test drive too. Finally, on the test drive do a leak test, pull in and leave the car idling for about 30 seconds then pull forward and check the spot you were just parked, make sure there are no leaks coming from the car because this could be serious. P.S. Don’t do this check in the rain as it’ll be useless.

Avoid Pulling the Trigger

Don’t be too quick on pulling the trigger and agreeing to a purchase make sure you shop around and come to a decision that you are happy with. The price isn’t the only factor so make sure you have thought about everything before handing over any money. Check the pros and cons and make sure you have found a car that really fits your needs as there may be a better alternative out there.

Thank you for reading and we hope you have found these tips useful for when you are buying a used car.

Author: James McAra

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