Liviu Marcus
The urge to buy a used car should not be finished at the level of wanting; the buyer should try to ask several questions before putting the money on a car whose condition is unknown.
Here are the key questions crucial to ask before you purchase a used car.
Does the car have a crash history?
When you ask this question, you will find out if the seller has had any accident, be it minor or major, with the car before. Be anxious to learn which section of the car got spoilt and what level of repair has been carried out on it. If you wish to purchase a used automobile, you can check the car history for free. There are countless websites on the internet where you can make a free check of the car’s history. Just search on Google and you will find many 🙂
How often do you change the oil?
Regular oil change is one of the important indications that the seller has properly taken care of the car. Let your seller provide you with maintenance records or service receipts, if available.
What is the mileage of the car?
Try not to assume that the seller’s quoted mileage is correct. Check with the car’s odometer. Do a proper check as well of the information on the legal documents of the car, including vehicle ownership and VIN.
What regular or recent issues have you faced with the car?
The best way to get the right question across to the seller is to do a background check about the model of the car being offered up for sale. Each car model comes with certain problems that are specific and exclusive to them. Besides, ask the seller if there are recurrent, regular, or recent problems − electrical or mechanical – that need urgent fixing. You may also want to know if the problems can be fixed before purchase.
How long can I drive-test?
30 minutes is enough good time to assess the condition of the used car you’re buying. Some cars may require more time. How well does the car run? Does it suit your preference or lifestyle? Make sure the seller keeps an eye on you while you drive and test the car.
What is the maintenance cost?
Don’t splash your income yet on any model of a used car if you never find the right answer to whether the seller will take trade-ins or dealerships. If your budget doesn’t match the cost of maintenance, tax, and other fees, you might want to bargain for a trade-in.
Final verdict
Don’t forget every seller wants to get rid of their used car. The buyer is to know what they want and how they’ll not end up in the hands of a dubious seller. The above questions are very essential to avoid this.
Also, we do recommend you to read our article about how to buy a used car ( complete guide ). It will help you to buy a used car without getting scammed.
