How to Choose and Buy a Used Car

How to Buy a Used Car – You always want to take the car cheaper, especially if it has already been in someone’s hands. Yes, reliable brands can last decades. But sometimes, like a decent-looking car, you should never buy a car. We explain how to choose and procedures to take before you buy a used car.

Where to start?

Budget. It is necessary to determine the amount that can be spent on the purchase of a used car, and make sure you do not go out of that budget. Most time people spend more than what they budgeted because they are carried away or too anxious to get a car. In addition, separate or prepare another 5-10%, of the total budget. Because most times used vehicle often needs additional spending on stuff like engine servicing and other little touches. First spending may be required only after a few months.

When choosing a model. Consider not only personal preferences but also specifications, the experience of former owners, liquidity of the car on the secondary market, its technical condition, and “legal purity. Make sure your anxiety or emotions do not push you to make a rash purchase that you later regret.

Where to look for a used car

There are several options when buying a used car, But here are best options:

For friends
From car markets
The Internet
From a dealer’s.

Although buying from a friend is perhaps the safest option, But there is little choice, as only the proposed option has to be considered.
Considering the other three options, we can assume that it is preferable to buy a car market because you get a large selection of cars, a competitive environment (opportunity to bargain), and so on.

How to Buying a Used Car

Before buying a car, starts with questions to the seller. What to ask, so as not to waste time on junk? in case you have little or no idea, Here are 10 steps to guide you when buying a used car.

1. Don’t Buy a Car With All Your Budgeted Money

Leave a minimum of 10-15% of your total budget for repairs and unforeseen expenses. They will definitely surface, believe me, there will be some little adjustment you will like to do even if the car is just a year old. These changes might cost just a few dollars, but before you know it, the family budget will quickly begin to crumble if not properly planned.

2. Calculate the Average Price

This can be precisely done manually, remembering the mathematics for the fifth grade. You can also make use of some online average price calculation tools. This will help you to know the average price of the car you are buying. It will then be easier to think, bargain, and not fall into the hands of scammers and resellers.

3. Don’t Expect a Good Car Below Average Price

Don’t ever expect someone to sell a good working condition car to you below average market value. Don’t ever fall for the silly stories; it is because I or the owner needs money urgently / the owner wants to travel out of the country. Even if a person urgently needs money, he/she sells the car to intermediaries or car dealers and instantly receives money. Just know that almost all vehicles or cars sold at a low price are either broken or have serious legal problems. it can also be ads from scammers. Know this and you know peace.

4. Avoid Cars with Two Lines of Description

When you see beautiful and clean photos with just two to three lines of car description such as “All questions on the phone,” “Car is neatly used”, “Car in perfect working condition” and so on. Don’t even border calling because, In 95% of cases, it is a scammer or middle man that just wants to get his own cheer. I should be able to write a full biography of what I used. Even if I don’t have that kind of time I can easily record in voice before going to bed and give it to a freelancer to write the next morning.

5. Get important Information on Call to Save Time

Ask specific questions that cannot be answered in general. For example, Who is the original dealer of the car? When was the last time the oil was changed? What’s new in the car? Is the PTS original? How many owners are registered in the PTS? His He the current owner or helping someone else with the sale? Is there a service book, order outfits, and checks? Feel free to ask the question, “Why do you sell a car? And so on.

6. Always Check Car Record Before going to Inspect

Check the past record of the car on the traffic police official website. Check if there are critical past records of a traffic offense, accident, or any criminal act on the car. Check whether the car has been used as collateral.

7. Carefully Read all the Clauses Before You Sign

It should not take more than 5-6 pages. If you brought a contract, then carried away and brought again, read it again: there may be unprofitable changes for you. If you buy a car on credit, read the conditions with triple attention. Unofficial dealers love to include hidden payments and charge a fee for rejecting the transaction.

8. Inspect, Test drive, pay attention to all the little things

Do not believe the evidence of the odometer The best mileage of a car is getting out the condition of the driver’s seat, steering wheel, armrest, and lever of the checkpoint. Check for the paint thickness of the particular car model on the internet and measure it when inspecting. This is useful especially when the car has been used for just a few years.

It is necessary to see whether there are traces of paint on the seals and moldings, whether the pitch and tone of paint are not the same on different parts, whether there is still company stamping, whether the lights and glasses are similar, whether the tires are symmetrically worn. Check whether the steering wheel is still intact and exact position from the maker, whether the car jack’s at acceleration and braking, whether there is some strange sound while in motion, whether the air conditioning and all other gadgets in the car.

9. Before buying, drive the car into the service

If the car is liked by all parameters and you have no doubts, before signing a contract of sale be sure to go to the service and diagnose at least the suspension. Ideally, there is also an electric engine. This will cost a maximum of a couple of thousand dollars but will save from buying a car in poor condition. In many cases, diagnostics can reveal those problems, due to which you can bargain well and certainly beat off its cost.

10. Make Sure Both Parties signs Change of Ownership

The main thing is to have one pen and one handwriting. It is better to walk into the bank to deposit the money in cash and state the transaction. Also, make sure the account name is the same as the names on particulars, It’s going to save you from fakes and scams.

What to Look for When Buying a Used Car

On the guide you need to know to How to choose a used car, here are what you need to look out for in the car.

A technical passport. You should pay attention to the registration date and the year of release. You should also check the match of the body number under the hood and in the cabin, the engine number.
Service book. It is not mandatory, but if it has regular marks about the passage of maintenance, then it is a plus in favor of the purchase. Careful attitude to your own car – a pledge (not a guarantee!) of its good condition.
Clean body. The dirt on the body hides the defects of paint coating. The disadvantages on the paint are poorly visible in the rain.
The joints should have the same width along the entire length. If the size between the elements of the body “floats”, then most likely, the part was removed and poorly exposed gaps.
Paint coating. A lot of copies have been broken on this point. Some believe that it is almost impossible to define a well-painted part on the eye. Others believe that an unoriginal painting impersonates itself at first sight. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between. Pay attention to the strange brilliance of varnish, sharp transitions between paint, clearly non-native striding, differences in colors, especially at different angles. Before using the thickness of the meter, find out the normal thickness of the paint coating for a particular brand.
The sub-hood space. Clean motor should alert – so the easiest way to hide the oil leaks requiring the attention of the unit. The rust and just the bare metal on the body elements should alert. Behind the various seals can be hidden traces of repair.
Corrosion. The most common rust is formed in the following places: wheel arches, flaps, rapids, places under rubber seals and plastic decorative elements, joints of racks with the roof, the bottom face of the lid of the luggage compartment.
Farcop is a chain device for a trailer. It’s better to take without him. Especially if you are looking for a car with off-road abilities. Pulling the weights on the trailer is not very useful for the box and suspension – faster wear them. This does not apply to cases where the “hook” is not an option, but a non-removable part of the car.
The salon. Cracks, scratches, scuffs on the seats, cladding doors, and dashboard do not add to the car price. And also help at least indirectly to compare the said mileage with the real possible. Hardly a polished steering wheel corresponds to a couple of dozen kilometers traveled, as well as worn door handles. But everywhere there are nuances. Some machines have poor skin on the steering wheel and it comes in a poor look especially quickly. Other models have a “branded” disease in the form of scratching plastic: it will look “tired” after a couple of months of using the machine. Keep this in mind – read the feedback from the owners pointing to weaknesses.
The floor is under the mats. There should be no water and other liquids – their presence signals a violation of seals tightness or a faulty climate system.
The wheels don’t have to backlash. To check, you need to hang the car on the lift or with a jack, lock the steering wheel, and then, applying effort, check the presence of backlashes relative to vertical and horizontal planes.
The cases of pendant and steering hinges. It is obligatory to check the cases of hinges for the presence of lubricant and tightness – it is enough to press your finger.
Wheels. There should be no dents and cracks.
The tires. Uneven wear indicates problems in suspension or defects in body geometry.
Shockers. To test, you need to apply to the wing an effort, perpendicular horizontal plane, and then let go: there should be 3 swings after pressing – lifting, lowering, lifting.
The cylinders and hoses of the braking system. The presence of leaks is not allowed.
Brake mechanisms. It is necessary to make sure that there is no excessive wear and tear. This requires visual inspection and measurement of the thickness of the disk and friction pads. Optimal parameters depend on the model of the car.
The butter. It is recommended to examine the engine for oil flowing, as well as the oil itself for the presence of particles of wear and bubbles in it.
The cooling system. Check the cooling system for leaks and make sure the rubber hoses are elastic.
When the ignition is on. All indicators on the dashboard are tested and tested. The next is to turn the ignition on and off several times. Then start the engine for 10-20 seconds, jam and turn the ignition again without starting the engine – the oil emergency pressure indicator should not be active, but if the light bulb is lit after a very short period of time, the technical condition of the engine leaves much to be desired.
If the engine is turned on, the engine is unheated. You should turn away the lid of the cooling system’s expansion tank and make sure there are no air bubbles. Then you should unscrew the lid of the oily neck and make sure that the gases do not come out. The working engine is also recommended to be inspected for all sorts of fluids.
The sound. Metal knocking and uneven revs indicate a malfunction of the motor.
The color of exhaust gases. On a healthy engine on idle turns the gases are almost colorless, and when pressed on the gas pedal – pale blue. Blue, black and thick white indicate malfunctions.
Switching gears. In motion, check the performance of the checkpoint – there should be no extraneous noises and vibrations. The lever should not backlash, and transmissions must be turned on clearly.
The brakes. Foreign sounds, the car drives to the side and too big brake path – all these are reasons to check.
The controls. You should go to an even section of the road and move forward without holding the steering wheel. If the car spontaneously began to change the given trajectory, that is, problems with steering, body geometry or suspension.

If you do not have the desire, the necessary skills, or time to evaluate the car yourself, you can ask for help at the service station or service center. It should be said that the inspection of the car is not worth saving.

Emphasizing on important things to check before buying a used car

Smoke from the Car Exhaust

The motor of the machine is her heart, if seriously naughty, consider the whole body of the car as nothing. The owner can convince that he could pour anti-smoke additives into the oil, but he might, but if this happens, all you have got to do is replace the exhaust. The smoke coming out from the exhaust of any car will tell you the condition of such care, be careful to pick any of these cars without checking through the exhaust.

Frame like drama

This is primarily true for SUVs that have a frame under the body. Because, in addition to the VIN number, they have a frame number, it is also called the chassis number. Are you going to buy such a car – study the documents and check the numbers in papers and on the frame. Firstly, they must match, and secondly, the number on the piece of iron should read perfectly. Do not guess, namely read. If rust has eaten the number, this car in the legal sense can stop being a car. The inspector will simply refuse to register her with you in the traffic police.

It is only in American TV programs about pumping wheelbarrows that everything is so easy and beautiful: they took an old trough, welded the missing parts, doused it with paint, and it sparkled. In reality, a rotten body loses its integrity. If rust ate not just a threshold and a silencer, but firmly grasped the power base of the body – spars, then even the most talented welder can not cure an ailment.

Serious alterations are also a disaster. Gas-powered equipment, a bulging suspension, an iron bumper, even a towbar for a trailer in a passenger car – all these are changes in design, if they were not legalized in the traffic police, then the car is not subject to registration. Will have to clean.

Paperless insect

Papers on a used car are a bigger problem. A lost technical passport, aka TCP, is an alarming bell. Judge for yourself: what prevents the former owner from getting a duplicate of TCP? The procedure is simple and inexpensive. If the car is also nonresident, then there is some dark matter.

The car may be wanted by bailiffs, with problems in customs clearance, with a restriction on registration actions for some other reason. And it so happens that everything is in order with the machine, but the owners are getting dark. Husband and wife gathered to get a divorce, and he quietly throws off the car recorded on his spouse. And then suddenly it turns out that the wife was not going to sell the car. The car will have to be returned right away, but when they give the money back to you – the big question.

FAQ

Can you lease a used car?

Yes, you can lease a used car just like a new car, but not all Automakers and dealers offer them. You will not see them been advertised online or elsewhere. You can set up a used car lease directly through your automaker with your certified pre-owned Documents. You can also lease a used car through an independent lender, such as car dealers or a bank, although financial terms may not be as favorable as that of an automaker.

How much is a used car?

The average selling price of used cars or vehicles is around $22,000, While it cost an average of $21,000 in 2019, According to Statista.

Best way to buy a used car?

These are the best tips for buying a used car:

Set your budget and list out the type of car models and functionality you want
Check reliability, ownership costs and Choose the right one for You
Locate good used cars of your choice and Price them and choose the best
Check the vehicle history and maintenance report
Inspect and Test drive the car, Please go with a professional if you are not sure of yourself.
Finally, Negotiate the best price and close the deal.

What is good mileage for a Used Car?

Mileage will vary between vehicles. In general, below 12,000 miles per year is good, exactly 12,000 miles per year is normal, while anything above is considered a risk. However, Consumer Reports now shows that there are at least 10 models that can happily last past 20,000 miles per year when properly cared for.

The most important thing is how those miles were accrued, how well the vehicle was cared for over the course of those miles, and how many miles you figure to get out of it going forward. Also, Be cautious if a used car is nearing a service milestone but hasn’t been taken in by its previous owner. It could mean extra and unexpected costs.

How many miles on a used car is too much?

Anything above an average of 10,000 to 20,000 miles per year with a good maintenance track record is considered too much and risky to buy.

How to negotiate a used car?

Get the seller’s phone number and call him to get solid information about the car. This will save you time and help you negotiate the initial price.
Allow the seller to make the right opening/first offer. It could be well below what you’re prepared to pay.
Make a counteroffer. Make sure you have researched and confirm the current market value of the car. Now take it a bite below a decent price and allow him to level it back to the decent price.
Inpect and testdrive the car. make sure you go with a professional if this is your first time.
Finally, Seal the deal. Do all change of ownership documentation and singing all necessary.

Conclusion

It is very important you inspect all aspects of the car has listed above and also make sure the legal purity of the Car must is as clean as a crystal. Check through all road safety cops databases and the traffic police on their websites.

Examine each of the documents, including the owner’s passport, before entering into a sales contract or Deal. Hopefully, these tips on buying a used car are enough for your to make the right decision. If You Need Extra Help on How To Pick A Used Car that is good for you, Feel free to contact us or use the comment section.