Used Car Buying Advice

Used Cars: Everything You Need To Know Before Buying A Vehicle

Decide What You’re Looking For

If you enter into the used vehicle market blindly without any idea, you’ll become prey for the unscrupulous sellers and dealers. Think about what you want in a car for you. Looking for a spacious car, an economical one, or a comfortable one? Think about the use of the car and the frequency of use and the place you can compromise. This helps you to get an idea about the vehicle.

Get Valuation

There are a lot of genuine online portals in the market where you can check vehicle details to know the valuation of the used car in the market. This lets you know what a reasonable price looks like. You should never forget to know the market value before starting a conversation with the seller.

Arrange for a Vehicle Inspection

Inspect the used car before you commit. A private seller may hide damages and flaws by giving offers. Even though you have seen the pictures of the vehicle you should inspect it personally. Arrange for an inspection in a comfortable place and take a friend or family member with you. Because you don’t know who the seller is, practically speaking. Don’t take too much risk just for a used vehicle.

Circle around the vehicle look for scratches and dents. Thoroughly inspect the interior and find if there are any unpleasant odors. Verify the service history and MOT test records with the free vehicle check history you performed online to ensure the vehicle is safe.

Take The Car For A Test Drive

A used car might have serious faults even it looks pristine. So never purchase a car without doing a test drive.  If the seller is reluctant, there may be some chances of hiding something. If the seller asks you for your driving license and third party car insurance proof don’t hesitate to provide because its everyone’s nature to verify before giving it to test drive.

Test braking system, accelerator, clutch, gear, and almost everything you can try. Listen to any unusual noises from the engine or inside the vehicle. Analyze how comfortable and pleasant the ride is. At the same time make sure the mileage showing in the odometer matches the MOT records in the vehicle information check report.

Don’t hesitate to Negotiate

Always never agree to the advertised price. Usually, you should start from a lower price and gradually move high if it necessary only when the condition of the vehicle is good. But you should not go any more than market value and off your budget. Perform a full vehicle check to get the valuation of the vehicle you intend to buy.

Complete the purchase with proper transaction

Completing the transaction professionally and properly shows your genuinity towards the deal. Both seller and buyer should be happy at the end of the deal. The seller should provide you the receipt of the transaction from his bank, it helps to avoid unwanted problems after that.

Finally, the seller should intimate DVLA to update that the vehicle has been sold to another person and you must notify DVLA that the car is now with you. You must ensure that the seller is the authorized person to sell the car. You can request them spare keys, V5C logbook, and proof of identity. You can verify the information with the DVLA database by performing a DVLA vehicle check.

If you’re done with the above things you can own a car at an affordable price and can enjoy your ride peacefully with your family.

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7 Critical things to note in a Vehicle Check Report

Every time a consumer is facing a tough time to choose a good used car before they purchase. These important parameters can help you to find an apt vehicle for all your car buying needs.

1. Priceworthy & Value
2. Damages & defects
3. Residual Value
4. Durability and safety
5. Number of previous owners
6. Registered Date
7. Vehicle History Check

Quick Byte: Did you know?

30% of all used vehicles have some negative history

1. Worth the Value

You should examine the vehicle and know the market value of the vehicle you intend to buy. You can even get a car valuation online to know the current market value so that you don’t pay more than that. Value can be affected if there is recent negative history so make sure there is no accident or damage.

2. Massive Damage

Heavy damage affects our safety as well as the environment’s road safety. As well as it decreases the value of the vehicle and the repair costs may exceed the value of the car. Usually, these things fall under one of the write-off categories. Inspect and check vehicle details thoroughly before you buy.

3. Residual Value and Mileage

Let us consider that you buy a used car that already has 90,000 miles recorded and 3 ownerships including you. What happens later? A wise investment plan should pay attention to mileage, road safety, and a number of keepers or owners. Make sure when you buy a used car the odometer wasn’t rolled back. Because higher the mileage, lower the chances of durability.

4. Road Safety of the vehicle

To ensure road safety you can check MOT records of the vehicle. Every year MOT inspection is mandated by the Government to ensure the safety of vehicles, environment, and drivers. A free vehicle check history provides the MOT record of a vehicle. You must check from the record of the vehicle close to the date of purchase.

5. Number of previous keepers or owners

If the vehicle has more number of owner it may be a sign that the vehicle has a lot of problems and defects in it. Even if the seller hides the original number of owners you can get a number of owners list from DVLA.

6. Date first Registered

Earlier the car registered higher the chances of repair works in the vehicle. A simple UK vehicle check may save you from unwanted problems and worst finance loss.

7. Vehicle History Check

Before going for an inspection you should get a vehicle check to know the complete history of the vehicle. It helps you in a lot of ways like finance records, stolen records, and much more. There are a lot of online vehicle check providers in the market where you can get the vehicle information by simply entering the vehicle registration number.

With a simple vehicle information check result, you can decide whether to buy the vehicle or walk away.

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