5 things to consider when BUYING A USED car:
If you feel out of your depth as a buyer in the used car market, here are some considerations to help steer you through:
1. Wants vs needs
A good starting point: practicalities. What does the car need to do for you? How many people should it accommodate? Are they nimble enough to climb into the back behind the front seats, or do you need 4 doors (or maybe 5?) What are the most important features for the way you travel?
Only then allow your heart to think: do you fancy a mighty Range Rover rather than a frugal Hyundai?
And most importantly, see how this all fits within your budget. Maybe you can have your dream car. Maybe you will have to be more sensible and compromise for now. Maybe there is more due diligence to do before you can answer that.
Research the market value of the car you have in mind to ensure that you have a good idea of the likely price beforre going any further.
If you are financing the car, shop for the best available interest rates and terms. And don’t forget insurance: check the cost to insure the make and model of the car you are interested in.
2. What type of fuel?
Electric cars (a whole blog post in their own right!) are great for the soul, though they’re expensive, have questionable mileage ranges - and - do you have somewhere at home to charge it? Drive Electric have many of the answers HERE
What about a hybrid engine? It charges itself and will save fuel around town - but may not compare economically to a standard petrol motor on a long drive.
Diesel vehicles are losing popularity and will be phased out by 2050. Though, if you clock over 30,000 miles a year on the motorway, a diesel could save a lot in fuel costs.
3. Make an informed purchase
Buying a used car carries some risk. The older the car, the more care it needs.
Consider the mileage: this is a good indicator of how much wear and tear the car has experienced.
Check if there is any warranty left on the car or if you can purchase an extended warranty.
Key indicators are the number of owners and who these owners were.
Check the vehicle history – has it been in any accidents? Has it ever been stolen? Is there any debt outstanding on its original purchase? Avoid anything owned by a rental company!
*Always* take the car for a test drive to get a feel for its performance and handling. Is it comfortable? How does it sound when it’s running?
4. Has it been loved?
Cars can be complicated machines. They can run forever if properly looked after, and might die at any moment if poorly maintained.
Going through the service history is critical to make sure it has always been well maintained, serviced regularly and had what it needed.
Inspect the car thoroughly to check for any signs of wear and tear, rust, dents, or scratches. Check for leaks or other mechanical issues.
If you don’t feel experienced enough to do this confidently, pay for an expert service (such as the RAC Vehicle Inspection Service) before committing to the car.
5. Do you like the seller?
This might sound unscientific but it’s important.
Buying a car from a dealer or private seller you like gives you a better chance of the car being a nice example. If you have any problems after the purchase a nice dealer will help you.
Never ever buy a car from someone you don’t like!
In conclusion, buying a second-hand car requires a lot of research and due diligence to ensure that you are making a sound investment.
Don’t be pressured into committing. Taking the time to thoroughly inspect and research the car can save a lot of trouble and money later.
For many, the lack of time and know-how stands in the way of making a confident purchase.
Clients of Consider it Done can delegate a lot of the legwork involved to our team of PAs.
And for best assurance and ease – we’d always recommend enlisting the help of a car-finding expert.
With special thanks to Ashley Winston, Owner of Palmdale Prestige for sharing his experience and wise words.
Twitter: @TheCarGuru | LinkedIn: Ashley Winston