Unfortunately, not all of us are in a position where we are able to buy a brand new car. Cars can be ridiculously expensive, but they are essential for people who have no other methods of transport.
Owning your own car also gives you a certain level of freedom, you can drive where you want when you want. You also don’t need to depend on the help of others and public transport, which is great for when you want to head on a spontaneous trip.
If you are unable to buy a brand new car outright, there are other options that you have. For example, you could buy a car on finance or with a black box, but this usually ends up amounting to more than what the car is even worth.
Instead of allowing yourself to pay a ridiculous price for a new car, you can instead choose to buy a second-hand car. A second-hand car is a car that has been previously owned by another driver. There is a common misconception that used cars are always of poor quality and do not last, but this is not the case.
Like in any sale negotiations, you will find people trying to sell you a poor quality car, unfortunately, people are just interested in making money rather than selling a quality product. However, there are people out there that took good care of their vehicle, they just no longer want it and are looking to sell.
It can be easy to buy a poor-quality vehicle when you are shopping second-hand, but there are some things that you can look out for to ensure that you don’t end up buying a bad car. Here is what to look out for when buying a used car.
Make Sure The Owner Gives You a Full History
Depending on how old the car is, it is likely that the car has a full history. When someone owns a car, a record is kept of any accidents or any repairs that a car has had. If you speak to the seller, and they state that there is no apparent history with the car, then this is a big red flag.
You should expect something to have happened with the vehicle, especially if it is an older car. Even if the history shows only a minor accident, this is far more reliable than a completely blank history. If the owner says that no issues have occurred with the car, they are likely being dishonest, as cars can easily run into problems.
You may have just got lucky and found a car in perfect condition, but you need to make sure that you are not being tricked. If you want to check whether or not the seller is being honest about the history of the car, simply put the registration number into https://vinspy.eu. On this website, you can find out what the value of the car is and whether or not it has been in any accidents.
A car is a big purchase and so you can never be too careful. So don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, as this just shows that you know a little about cars and means you will be far less likely to be scammed.
Check the MOT
It is a legal requirement for cars to regularly have MOT checks. These checks are a thorough diagnosis of the condition of a car and check whether or not a car is road safe. Before a car can be insured, it has to pass an MOT check.
You should talk to the seller and ask them what the results of the MOT were. It was likely that some repairs had to be made and if they did, that just means that the car has newer parts and it is not necessarily a bad thing.
However, if they are not honest about the results of the MOT, this could be another big red flag concerning the condition of the car. If they fail to disclose any information about the MOT, you may need to get one yourself in order to get insurance, so don’t be afraid to ask for some sort of proof.
Cleanliness
If you are buying an old car, it is not uncommon for it to look a bit run down. Though the exterior may be a bit worn and in need of a bit of TLC, there is absolutely no reason why the interior of the car should be dirty.
Nobody wants to buy a car that they have to clean as soon as they get it and it could also be a sign that there are further problems with the car. If the person who is selling the car can’t even be bothered to make sure that it is clean, then what else have they neglected?
If you went into a clothing store and the clothes were dirty, you wouldn’t buy them as that shows that there has been no duty of care there, so you should apply this same thought process to your car.
Don’t rush into anything
If you are eager to get on the road, you may be tempted to rush into buying a car. This could mean that you miss out on future opportunities to get a great vehicle, so don’t be afraid to hold back until you find the perfect car.