Buying A Second Hand Car? 19 Tips To Avoid Getting Your Fingers Burnt.
Do your homework. Read up about the model of car you’re thinking about. Will it perform as you will want? Be aware of any known mechanical problems with that particular model and remember to check them out when you take it for a test drive (see tip 15).
Look up the current second hand values for the car. Try starting at www.what car .com. Also get some of the second hand car magazines and your local paper. Check out the prices being asked for similar cars.
Car Insurance is always a major expense. How much will that car cost you to insure? It’s easy to find out on the Internet get a few quotes. It’ll just take you ten minutes.
Also check out the car’s other running costs. We’re talking about fuel consumption, servicing and repair bills. Again www.what car .com can help. Ensure you can afford to run the car!
When you see the car insist on seeing its registration documents and, if the car is more than 3 years old, its MOT certificate. The registration documents will also show the cars’ VIN number. Carefully check that the documents tally.
Always ensure that the person selling the car does actually own it.
And always see the car at the seller’s own home or business premises. Then ensure that the address on the Registration Document is at the same as the address – if not ask why. You should be suspicious.
Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid? Does the vehicle registration number on the disc match the Registration Document and the number on its number plate?
Ask to view the cars’ Servicing Record. Usually, this will also show the cars’ VIN number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills? Ask to see them.
Now look under the bonnet and look for the VIN Number (it could also be on a plate on the inside edge of one of the front doors). Compare the VIN number with the number on the Registration Document and check that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. This will help to ensure that the car hasn’t had its identity changed.
It’s best to take a friend with you who knows’ about cars not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and anything that is agreed.
Don’t pay for a car on your first visit and try not to be pushed into putting down a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).
Ask the owner whether the car is subject to any outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. Then, when you get home, get on the Internet and check out the information provided with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC’ web site. Click on Car Buying and then Vehicle Status Checks. The Status Check will cost you 24.99 but it will confirm whether the car has outstanding finance. Best to be safe without this Check you could find out that a finance company actually has a prior title to the car.
Carefully examine the car in good daylight. Look carefully for signs of repairs and accident damage. If you have followed our advice and obtained a Vehicle Status Check, that Check will also notify you if the car has previously been written off.
Try to ensure that the car hasn’t been clocked. (Clocked means that the mileometer has been wound back to show a lower mileage.) The average annual mileage is around 12,000. Be wary if the wear and tear on the car looks greater than you would expect from the mileage. The wear on the driver’s pedals is usually a give away. Then ask when the tyres were last replaced. Does the wear on the tyres look about right?
Insist on test-driving the car for at least 10/15 miles. You need to get the car fully warmed up and drive it in varying conditions. Incidentally, don’t forget to ensure you are insured to drive it! Don’t assume that your own insurance policy will cover you for driving someone else’s car. Check your policy before you leave home. If the seller claims that his insurance covers you, ask to see his policy a bit of a pain but better safe than sorry!
Has the car ticked all the boxes so far? Then spend some more money get it professionally inspected.
Never pay any money until you have seen the results of the RAC Vehicle Status Check. And even then, avoid paying any money until the car is handed over to you complete with its Documents and tax disc. Always get a written receipt for any money you pay and ensure that it includes the sellers name and address.
Last of all, make sure you’re insured from the moment you drive the car away. The Police can now impound, and ultimately scrap, your car if you’re driving it without insurance or road tax! If the car has not got Road Tax disc, call in at the Post Office on the way home and get one. You’ll need to show them a valid insurance cover note for the car and the cars up to date MOT Certificate.
If you’ve followed all these steps you’ll have done just about everything possible to ensure the car is legally yours at the right price, and you haven’t bought a scrapper!
Tags: 3 Years, Bonnet, Business Premises, Buying A Second Hand Car, Car Insurance, Car Magazines, Fingers, Front Doors, Fuel Consumption, Hand Values, Homework, Mechanical Problems, Registration Document, Registration Documents, Repair Bills, Running Costs, Second Hand Car, Tax Disc, Test Drive, Vehicle Registration NumberRelated posts
Every year in the UK over 7 million used cars are purchased, with many of these cars being purchased privately direct from the owner. Whilst this can often be the route to achieving the best bargains it can also become very expensive in cases when it emerges that the car has a number of problems or a previously unknown history. In order to reduce the likelihood of being caught out weve put together the top tips when buying a car privately:
The first step is to do some research about your desired car. Check classified ads and trade guides to get a good idea of prices. Parkers.co.uk is an excellent site and contains a free used car valuation tool and thousands of reviews and ratings.
Once youve decided on which car youd like to buy and have found a possible seller always go and take a look at the car in daylight.
Take a friend along with you. If problems occur in the future its very useful to have a witness available to validate what was said.
Check that the car has not been clocked. The average mileage is 12,000 miles a year. Have a look at the tyres to see whether this looks right or if the car has new tyres ask the owner for details of its servicing history.
Always go for a test drive. However, make sure that you are insured to do so and if the seller says that he has cover ask to see his policy.
Carefully check the log book, officially known as the V5 or registration document. In particular look for the chassis number, known as the vehicle identification number (VIN). This will usually be located on a small plate on the drivers door or in the engine bay. The absence of a VIN number strongly suggests that the car has assumed the identity of someone else, probably because it has been stolen at some point in its past.
You could also consider purchasing an AA Car Data Check. Importantly this will include a full description of the car, including engine size and date of first registration, so you can be sure of what you are buying. It will also tell you whether the car has a finance agreement recorded against it, if the car has been written off, and whether the car has had any number plate or colour changes.
The chances are that at some point youll enter into negotiations over the price. Have a highest price and target price in mind before entering into negotiations. If your two offers are some way apart you try not to say anything. Car salesmen use this tactic all the time as people find silence uncomfortable. Try this and the seller will often suggest meeting half way, at which point you can propose meeting half way between your offer and the new offer, getting yourself a better deal.
Finally, if interested in the car consider having it independently checked by a reputable garage. Reputable sellers will understand this so be wary if the owner of the car is against having it checked.
Tags: Aa, Absence, Bargains, Buying A Used Car, Car Data, Car Tyres, Car Valuation, Cars Direct, Chassis, Chassis Number, Classified Ads, Likelihood, Mileage, Purchasing Car, Registration Document, Tool, V5, Vehicle Identification Number, Vin Number, WitnessRelated posts
When Buying A Used Car From Its Owner, Beware Of The Owner Bearing Offers!
Getting started with used cars does not require a mortgage or a student loan, but it is not free either. Buying used cars costs money. That is why it is extremely important to know all the possible factors that might lead the buyer into buying a used car that is suspect.
In reality, it is easy for the buyer to get carried away by convincing sales pitches, special offers, fantastic deals, magnificent bundles, freebies, and the like. However, it would take a really smart buyer to get the best deal when it comes to used cars.
Hence, it is equally important to know the basic factors that need to be considered before the buyer decides on a particular used car, especially if the car will be bought directly from the owner.
Here are some tips that might help those who are planning to buy a used car from its owner.
1. When buying cars from the owner, the buyer should ask the seller for the vehicle registration document or the so-called V5. Through this document, the buyer will be able to know the full details of the cars ownership like the name of the owner, the address, and other identity details.
2. If in case the V5 is with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or the DVLA, as told by the owner, the buyer should verify the reason. If it is due to recording purposes where the change of ownership shall be recorded, the seller should have a green slip that is to be presented to the buyer in exchange of the V5.
3. It is best for the buyer to ask the seller to see the insurance policy for the vehicle. If the seller cannot produce the document, it would be better not to buy the used car because there is a high probability that he is not the real owner or that there is something fraudulent with the transaction.
4. It is important to check if the identification details stipulated in the V5 is the same as that written in the drivers license. The address and the name should be the same on the two most important documents. Other wise, it would be better not to pursue on buying the car if there is doubt on the details.
These things should never be taken for granted because if any of the conditions mentioned is present, there is a great chance that the car is stolen. Therefore, its better not to take any risk.
Tags: Bearing, Buying A Used Car, Buying Cars, Buying Used Cars, Change Of Ownership, Costs Money, Driver And Vehicle Licensing Agency, Dvla, Freebies, Green Slip, Insurance Policy, Mortgage Loan, Probability, Registration Document, Sales Pitches, Smart Buyer, Student Loan, V5, Vehicle Licensing Agency, Vehicle Registration