Buying a car is a dream come true for many people. Purchasing a car comes at a hefty price that many people cannot afford. With such tough economic times, many people are not willing to part with the large sum of money that is required to buy a new car. A fall back plan is the purchase of a quality used car that fits within your budget and satisfies all your requirements. Finding a quality used car is quite challenging, maybe more challenging than buying a new car. So, what exactly do you need to look out for when buying a used car? Below are the dos and don’ts if you intend to buy the best quality used car.
1. Set Your Budget
A major concern for many individuals is the price of their heart’s desire. Buying a used car may cost less. However, this does not mean it is not costly. Before making a commitment on the car you would like to purchase, it is necessary to create a budget that would guide you. It would be quite disappointing to have your dream car and have it taken away from you as a result of defaulting. While creating your budget, it is important to allocate funds to other costs that are related to the purchase of a car. Costs such as insurance, tax and registration to name but a few, form approximately one tenth of the total cost of your car. Once the budget has been prepared, you can move on to selecting a car.
2. Identify Your Preferred Car
Selecting a car greatly depends on the amount of money you are willing to pay. This is because with every additional feature comes an additional cost. Therefore, the amount of money you have set aside as your budget will to a great extent determine the features of your car. First and foremost, you should identify the make of the car you want to buy. From which manufacturer would you like the car to come from? Once you have identified that, you then select the specific model you would like. The manufacturing year of the car and the mileage are some of the other factors that could affect the pricing of the car. Relatively older cars with more mileage are cheaper. Perform a comparison analysis to identify the best vehicle.
3. Where And How Is The Deal Taking Place?
Once the car has been selected, identify the buying place. There are four major ways in which one can purchase a used car.
- From a dealer dealing in used cars
- Online purchasing
- Private party agreement. This could be a friend, relation or any individual how has put up his car for sale
4. Maintain Ties With The Seller
You should keep contact information on the seller. This could come in handy especially if there are any queries that may arise after the purchase of the car.
5. Be Informed About The Car
Before you finally make the commitment, you should ensure that you have sufficient information about the car. You should have the history of the car such as any repairs done, maintenance log and even information on accidents it may have been involved in. This information may be provided by the seller. If the seller is a private party, you may insist on the reason as to why the car is on sale. Moreover, you should ensure that the car has a vehicle identity number. The VIN is normally located at two distinct points, at the top of the dashboard just below the windshield and at the driver’s side door pillar. It is crucial that these two locations have the same number. The number could assist you in getting more information about the car.
6. Perform A Physical Assessment
Although you are buying a used car, it does not mean that he car has to look all beat up. Walk round the car to look for any visible signs of wear and tear both on the body as well as the tires. This will say a lot about the maintenance of the car. Ensure that any paint job done on the car gives similar results. The whole car should have one color hue. Look for any damages that have not yet been attended to so as to know exactly what you are getting into before buying the car. In addition to this, be sure to check the alignment of the care. Ensure it is right as this will affect your safety on the road.
7. Take The Car For A Test Drive
It is good to know how well the car is performing at the time of purchase. Taking it for an extensive test drive will ascertain this as well as revealing any engine problems or other performance problems.
8. Negotiate With The Seller
Once you are satisfied with all aspects of your preferred vehicle, the final step is to pay for the car. Before doing so, you should bargain with the seller to try and get a better deal in terms of lowering the price. It should be noted that many used cars are normally sold at a price lower than the asking price.
Final Words
In addition to the above named factors, any further steps taken to assure and insure the quality of your choice of car is welcomed.
