We are not here to judge anyone and we understand that, far enough, everyone that has ever bought, or is planning to buy a second-hand vehicle has their own right and effective way to do so. However, sharing some experience and professional knowledge have never heard anybody, so in case you want to learn, or at least browse through some simple yet efficient tips and tricks to help you when purchasing a second-hand car, we highly recommend you checking out the articles we regularly upload on Mobeo’s blog. In order to help you even further, today we would like to talk about some of the main mistakes people buying a used vehicle make. Make sure to keep reading if you want to learn more!
For such a long time buying a car, no matter if a new one from the showroom, or a preloved one from a certified trader, website, or the owner themselves, is a stressful and definitely not an easy exercise. There are so many things and details you should keep in mind, when choosing the right vehicle, however still be reasonable and honest with yourself and know what is the best you can get for the budget. In addition, when it comes to buying a second-hand car, you will have a few more things to keep into account and consider long before the actual purchasing phase. It is not an easy job, but someone has to do it, right? Don’t worry and do not get too carried away with this overwhelming feeling, because professional websites such as Mobeo are created to help you make the best choice when you are buying or selling your preloved vehicle.
The deep consideration process of purchasing a used vehicle starts long before the purchasing phase itself, as we have already mentioned. Unfortunately, for some people, the peak of the nightmare happens when they finally buy the second-hand car and realise that it is not living up to their expectations for one reason or another. In order to help you avoid such situations, which are, indeed, definitely not pleasant, today we would like to share with you a few of the biggest mistakes you might do when buying a used car and how to avoid them!
1. Before diving into the process of even searching for what second-hand vehicles are offered on the market, you should have at least a rough idea of what you are looking for. Be honest with yourself and set yourself a reasonable budget that won’t break the bank. Then have a look at what is the best you can get for your budget and do you really need the best, or you can get along with something cheaper. In case you want a bit of a more expensive car over your budget, take some time to save some money. However, the whole idea is that before you dip your fingers into the used vehicles market, you should be aware of what type of car you are looking for – type, brand, model, specific characteristics, etc. Or at least have a few certain car models in mind.
A good preparation before starting the actual search for the car will save you a lot of time and a lot of nerves too. Some car traders are most probably going to distract you even more, so having a clear idea of what you want and what you are keen on spending your money on is important. In addition, some used car listings definitely do not live up to what the actual, real car offered is. In case you are not highly familiar with some details and special characteristics, take your time and make a good online search, you can find all the information you need. Do not miss to browse some car forums too, where you can get some additional and very useful information right from the source – car owners and car enthusiasts.
2. One of the most important things that some people decide to skip when buying a second-hand car is checking the car before buying it and, if possible, asking for a test drive. Not every seller will be happy with the idea of test driving, but having a good check of the car is something that no one should refuse you. In case you don’t feel comfortable enough with your knowledge, make sure to have someone with you to help you out – hire a professional, or ask a friend, who knows a lot about cars, or owns the same or similar car model.
Just a few of the mandatory things you should check out include service book, frame numbers, when the oil and the timing belt have been changed last time, engine, light indicators on the dashboard. Do all extras work properly? Are there any unexpected and non-typical noises in the coupe? Is there any difference in the joint size, other issues on the inside or on the outside, etc? Do not miss to check all of these basic things, because they will give you a real idea about the condition of the car, the idea about the seller and, of course, an idea about whether or not the vehicle is overpriced.
3. Do not be shy and if you think that the used car is really overpriced, try to negotiate and downsize the initial price. In fact, some car sellers, especially if you are buying the preloved car directly from the owner, are actually keen on decreasing the price a bit.
4. Be sure that you are not inspecting and checking out the car, when it is raining outside, in the evening, or when there is not enough light. Pretty self-explanatory – light is much needed so you can have a good look at the car, while the water from the rain is most probably going to camouflage some scratches and dents here and there.
5. Do not buy impulsively, after all, even if second-hand, buying a car is a pretty serious investment. In case you feel something is wrong in your guts, or you just don’t feel that this is the car for you, do not feel ashamed to thank and leave.