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If you know me in real life then you’ll know that we have had an issue (or ten!) with our car.
Learn from our mistakes next time you buy a second-hand car and by following these tips it might help you avoid some of the issues that we have had!
Buy approved used
We bought ours from a main dealership – it hasn’t been without its problems but it definitely gave us a route to redress some of the problems that we have had. It also means that you have a choice of different garages to go to if the specific one you bought from wasn’t great, there will be others under the same ownership that you can head to instead.
Do your research online
A lot of dealerships have websites which will show you the specification of the cars available, and how long they’re been on sale for. For example, if you’re looking for a used Ford car in Brighton then KAP Motors has a really good site which details all the information you need to narrow down your search, without trailing around the forecourts. Essential if you have young children as there’s nothing worse than making an expensive purchase when you have the children on tow! Especially when they start to get fractious.
Be sure to inspect the vehicle
Don’t take for granted that the car is immaculate – have a good walk around the car and check for any dents or scratches. Check the wheels for any issues and check the tyre tread – you don’t want to drive off with a new car only to find the tyres are soon going to need replacing. Make sure anything you notice is highlighted to the sales agent and it might be a point to negotiate on with them.
Check inside the car; pull the visors down and check that the electrics all work as they should. Whilst you’re inside, have a proper survey of the room you’re working with. Family vehicles need to be spacious, and if you still have small children, you need to know there’s enough space to fit an extended rear facing car seat safely in the back. Ask about any outstanding recalls on the car – this was a big issue that we had with our car, as our car has had a number of recall notices that we only found out about after we paid to rectify them! Make sure any known recall issues are dealt with.
Be clear on your budget
Car sales people want to get the most they can for their car as well as giving you the least they can for a car you are part exchanging. Be clear on what your budget is. It doesn’t matter necessarily how much they buy your current car for and how much they sell the next one at, as long as the overall amount you’re paying meets your expectations.
It’s worth being aware of how much your car might be worth and there are plenty of online sites where you can enter your registrations details and within a minute or two, they’ll provide you with an estimate for your vehicle. Doing this on a couple of sites as well as looking around to see the approximate price of the new car will mean you’re armed with all the relevant information to make a good deal.
Trust your gut instinct
And, when all else fails, trust your gut instinct! If you get a bad feeling for a car, a sales person or a garage then walk away. I wish we had when we purchased our last car. There were a lot of warning signs that we should have listened to.
What other tips do you have for purchasing a used car – what do I need to pay attention to next time?
