INSCMagazine: Get Social!

The high price tag of new cars, as well as their high depreciation rates, have made used cars more appealing to many buyers in the present times. And in as much as buying a used car sounds like a sensible option, doing it wrongly may lead to a lot of regrets down the line. If you buy a used car with hidden damages you didn’t take the time to know about, you are likely to spend a lot of money and endless trips to the mechanic and you may finally give up on the car.

This is why it is important to know how to buy a used car the correct way so that when you engage a used car dealer Phoenix AZ, you already know what you want and you have higher chances of ending up with a very good experience.

Here is a look at some of the top things you must do when you want to buy a used car the right way:

Check the car’s interior and exterior

Both the car’s interior and exterior play huge rules when it comes to the overall value of the car. Be very keen and inspect for any signs of damages or repairs that may be present on the inside as well as the outside of the car, and if any, you want to be sure that they are well taken care of by a professional. Don’t forget to open the hood for a visual inspection of the engine as well as the parts. If you happen to find a lot of dust and rusted parts in this section, this could be an indication that you are headed for a rough ride down the road if you go ahead with the purchase.

Go for a test drive

A car may be in very good condition, both on the inside on the outside, but a true indicator of what you are buying into will be determined on a test drive. Take the car for a test drive on the local roads as well as on the highways so that you can have a good feeling about the car’s performance. This is how you will know more about the mechanical soundness of the car, its driving condition and whether or not it will serve your needs as far as getting the car is concerned. It is also through a test drive that you can tell if there are any issues with the various systems and components, such as the braking, lighting, and the overall state of the electronics.

Have a mechanic inspect it before you buy

It is regrettable that very few people ever engage a mechanic in inspecting a used car before they make the purchase. As a result, they end up buying cars which seemed to be in great condition, but a few months down the line, the mechanical problems start calling and they end up with a very bad experience out of the purchase. Unless you are a mechanic, you can only know much when it comes to cars, and this is why it is imperative to have a mechanic check out the car and advise you on its actual state before you make the purchase. It may cost you a couple of hundred dollars but will save you thousands down the line if you were to buy a junk in the name of a used car.

Determine a fair purchase price

To ensure that you don’t pay more than necessary for the car, take time and find out what the fair purchase price of the car may be. You can do this by comparing the prices of the same make, model and year of manufacture from different sources. There are quite a number of online tools you can use for such, and once you determine what you feel like a fair purchase price, your negotiations with the dealer will be more guided and you will easily tell if you are being overcharged for the car.

Always decode the VIN

It is important for you to check the VIN decoder chart so that you know if the cars VIN information is the same as what is indicated on the car’s title and records. VIN is a common scam where the VIN of a stolen car can be replaced with that of a legally registered car, and unsuspecting buyers end up buying a car with a completely different VIN. This is why it is important to decode the VIN of the car you are interested in purchasing.

Read reviews about the car

Just like with purchasing every other thing at the present moment, it is important to read reviews by past owners or users of the model you are interested in buying. This is how you will get to have an idea of what to expect out of owning that car. Through the reviews, you will know about the common issues you are likely to face, and also the overall expectations you should have about using the car. If you like what you read from the reviews, you can go ahead and make the purchase, but if you don’t like the experience given by past users, then you should keep away from that particular model.

Check out the vehicle history report

It is through the vehicle history report that you will know if the car has any title problems, service points, ownership history and any other incident the car has ever hard, small or large. You can find these reports from the used car dealer in Phoenix AZ or you can order them online. The vehicle history report will give you more insights about what you are buying into and help you determine whether or not you want to go ahead with the purchase.

Take time so that you don’t become a remorseful buyer

Don’t hurry into buying a used if you don’t want to become a remorse buyer. Do the research, inspect the car, seek the help of a mechanic for further inspection, take the car for a test drive, read reviews and make your decision only when you are convinced that you are indeed buying the right car.

 

 

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.