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Purchasing a used vehicle is very risky, but if you follow a few simple tips you can feel more secure in your decision. One can never guarantee a used vehicle will be the quality promised, but below are some tips on how to get a feel for the person you will be buying from. Also, there are some ideas on things to watch for on the vehicle.
First of all, the biggest thing to watch for is the manner of the person that you may purchase the vehicle from. The personality can be a dead give away that they are selling you a bum vehicle. This can be tricky because some peoples’ mannerism is hard to decipher, but this can be a good hint. If they act nervous, or beat around the bush, they may be hiding something. If they are out-going and friendly, this can be a good sign that they are honest and trustworthy. Or, they could just be very good at lying and deceiving people.
Another thing to look for are signs of small damage on the vehicle. Small nicks or scraps on the vehicle may be the source of bigger problems. Check that everything in the vehicle works. Pop the hood and the trunk; roll down every window, and even check the heat and the air conditioning. Play the radio, shift the gears, and also check the seat belts. These little precautions can save a lot of headache in the long run. If those little things work efficiently you will feel a lot more confident in your choice.
A great trick when looking at used cars is to look very hard at the paint job. A key way to tell if a car has been re-built is to open the gas tank and look around the tank for putty or scratches. If there is putty or an abnormal amount of scratches, this can mean that the car was in an accident with the gas tank affected. One thing to stand clear of is a builder or a vehicle that has been in an accident and has been re-built. Generally, you tend to have more reoccurring problems with vehicles that are re-built.
If you are buying from a dealership, try to get some sort of warranty. Generally, they will not be thrilled about the idea, but this can be reassurance for you that they believe in the car they are selling you. A 30-day warranty can make a huge difference if your car breaks down. You should see how they react when you ask for the warranty. If they are dead set against it, they do not trust the vehicle they are selling you. If they refuse, shy away from the dealership and go with one that will stand behind their vehicles.
It is always a good idea to take it to another dealership for an inspection. This will generally cost anywhere from $20.00 to $50.00, but can spare you a dud vehicle. The mechanic will do a run through of all the major parts and see how well the car was taken care of. They will advise if the car is in good condition, or if they foresee any problems. Any mechanic will generally be fair and tell you honestly if the car is worth the asking price. Taking the vehicle to a mechanic for a second opinion on the quality of the car is a great idea and will be worth it in the long run.
Although you still stand many risks when buying a used vehicle the ideas above can make you feel at least a little more secure in your decision. Overall, you should feel comfortable with and trust the person that you will purchase the vehicle from. The more at ease you are with them, the more smoothly the whole process will go. Be smart, ask a lot of questions, and don’t trust everything they say. By second guessing them, you can bring out a lot more answers.
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