Top 5 Used Car Buying Secrets

There are many potential pitfalls when buying a pre-owned vehicle. If you aren’t a mechanical expert how can you be certain that your money will not be wasted on a car or van that simply breaks down immediately after you’ve purchased it?

Luckily the headache of buying a replacement car doesn’t occur very often. The average is around every two to three years. But when we do it is one of the most significant purchases that most people make. Getting a good deal is the top of most people’s priority lists, that is why they choose a second hand vehicle rather than new. Depreciation in value is enormous for many new vehicles with some falling in value by as much as 50% immediately after purchase. Buying a pre-owned vehicle takes advantage of this depreciation enabling the astute purchaser to often find a low-mileage, well maintained vehicle at a fraction of the cost of a new model. But how can you be sure that the vehicle you are buying is both a bargain and reliable.

It’s worth starting by identifying everything you need in your new vehicle. Passenger carrying capacity, luggage space, specification, economy and fuel consumption are all factors that you should consider. You may already have spotted some models that you like so this gives you a great starting point.

The next thing to do is research what it costs to get what you want. You’ll obviously find that vehicles that are only one or two years old are much more expensive than models that are three or four years old. This essential stage will tell you what you will need to spend to get what you want.

Having listed some models that you like along with some example prices its now time to find a seller who has what you want. You have two basic choices, private sellers or commercial. Private sellers will tend to be cheaper, but some would say that there is more risk involved. A garage or car sales business is likely to be more expensive but they can often provide many additional benefits.

If you are not a car mechanic it is always recommended that you have a vehicle checked over by someone who is before you commit to a purchase. Also, don’t overlook car leasing or van leasing as options because you may find that leasing will enable you to get that brand new Audi for the same monthly outlay as you may pay on a loan to buy a second hand one.