When you’re needing to buy a car and cannot afford to purchase a new one or if you are buying it for a child who is licensed to drive, you will need to carefully examine any used vehicles you are considering. Here are some tips you can use to help you purchase a used car so you don’t end up regretting your purchase.
Stick to Your Budget
If you do not adhere to your budget, you can easily be swayed by a great looking car and end up spending too much on it. When setting the budget for a vehicle, you will have to add in registration fees, insurance, maintenance costs and operation costs.
Research Vehicles
Whether you know exactly the type of vehicle you want or if you’re still trying to decide, doing your research can help you find the car or truck that fits your needs. By going online and reading car ads, you can figure out what to expect for used vehicle prices. There are tools online in which you can look up a vehicle to get the current market value based on the year, make, model and the mileage. By using these tools, you can prevent overpaying for a used car.
Ask Questions
Whether you are purchasing a vehicle from a private party or a car dealership, you need to ask questions and get as much information you can on a used vehicle. Find out how long the owner has had the car, ask to see its maintenance records, ask if it will meet RWC standards, find out why it is being sold when a private party is selling the vehicle and ask about any quirks the car has.
Check the History
By going online, you can use the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, to check out the car’s history. This information will tell you how many registered owners the car has had, if it was in any major accidents and it will also reveal any past loan information on the vehicle. You may have to pay a small fee for this information though in some states it is free. Having this information could save you money and a lot of frustration later.
Test it Out
Never, ever buy a vehicle, new or used, without test driving it. Check all of the lights before taking off in the car to make sure they work. Set the emergency brake and start to drive off, if it works, it should prevent the car from moving. Drive away slowly and listen for any odd sounds coming from the engine and test how smoothly it accelerates. Take it out on both the streets and highway to test how it runs. Part of the test drive is also figuring out whether you are comfortable in the vehicle or if it feels like a tight fit.
When you are looking at used cars in Canberra, try to stick with dealerships as you will have a better recourse if you do buy a used vehicle with problems.