We’ve all been yearning for our dream car, but our dream car, maybe it’s way too expensive for our pocket. While getting your dream car is a sweet thing, did you know that getting it second-hand car is better than a brand new car!
New cars are only their worth, as long as they stay inside the store. As soon as you roll them out of the showroom, they lose about a fourth of their value. That’s mean that you won’t be getting your entire money back even if you sell it tomorrow.
That’s why some people choose to go for a second-hand car. They’re not going to be as sweet as brand new, and you won’t be getting that VIP treatment that showrooms shower people, but you’ll be going home with a trusty automobile. Plus, it’s cheaper, so it’s still a win for you.
Of course, it’s not that easy buying a pre-loved car. If you get it wrong, you’ll end up with a big pile of junk that you can’t even use. The key is finding a car that’s still in pristine condition. The last thing you’d want is to spend more money on repairs than your purchased price.
We had a chance to talk to Koby, a second-hand car dealer based in Perth, Australia. With a little help from Koby, we’re putting together a helpful short guide to help you pick out an excellent pre-loved vehicle. Try to keep these at the back of your mind to get yourself the right car and avoid getting scammed.
Table of Contents
Broaden Your Horizon
Go out of your town to find your car. Don’t just settle for the cars that your town’s dealers have. Search for car dealers in less populated places and nearby areas. We know it’s a hassle to go all the way there, but chances are. Their cars are in better condition than those you’ve in your town. Why?
Repeatedly stopping and restarting your car can harm its engine. If you live in a place with rampant traffic, this is something that all vehicles in your area must’ve done a lot. Plus, cars in less populated areas have fewer chances of being that beaten down than those in the city.
Sure, the choices you’ll get from there are relatively fewer than those in your town, but you’ll have less competition for them there. Plus, you never know what model you’ll be able to find in there.
Focus On The Vehicle, Not The Seller
If you have chosen to buy a used car from a stranger or a relative, choose the stranger. That’ll make things easier and less complicated. Dealing with people you know is harder than you think.
It’s hard to say no to a friend or a relative. That is why dealing with them often results in corrupt deals. Chances are you’ll get yourself a car less than what it’s worth. Of course, this won’t always be the case. However, it usually is.
Turning down a deal with a friend can jeopardize your relationship with them. They might have a defective vehicle, who knows. It’ll be hard to tell them the truth that their car is not worth their price. Plenty of fights and drama could arise from that—all of which you could bring a mechanic.
Always reach for professional help. Don’t be afraid to ask your seller to have the car checked with your mechanic. If the vehicle is really in good condition, then he/she wouldn’t have anything to worry about it.
Okay, so you’re buying used cars in denver. Before putting your foot down and giving the seller his money, you need to sit down and do the math.
You must do this before buying the car and not after. At least, all the parts that need repairing and replacing can be taken into account when you talk about the price.
Get The Necessary Documents
When buying a second-hand car, you need to make sure that your seller has two things in hand. Firstly is the car’s paperwork and second its service book. These two things will tell you everything that you need to know about the vehicle that you’re about to own.
Take Everything Into Account
Okay, so you’re buying a used car. Before putting your foot down and giving the seller his money, you need to sit down and do the math. Would this car need repairs? How much gas does it consume? Would that cost you more?
These things may seem small now, but they’ll be your problems in the future. So as early as now, consider them. Take a piece of paper and calculate how much buying this car would cost you in the long run.
Get An Insurance
Once you have the car in your possession and all the paperwork has been taken care of, get insurance. It’ll save your bank account in the future. One of the biggest mistakes that most car owners make; they don’t buy insurance, and they consider insurance is unnecessary. Accidents always happen. No matter how careful you are or how superior your driving skills are, there are just some things that you can’t control. It’s better to be prepared to have insurance than no insurance.
Four reliable ways to get the pre-loved car of your dreams
Find a seller
Advantages
It’ll be easier to bargain with a person. This method can save you money. Plus, it’s more secure, and at least you’ll see the car before paying for it.
Disadvantages
Meeting the seller in person can be overwhelming. Plus, some sellers are meticulous, and they’ll ask for some sort of insurance before actually letting you test the car around.
Go online
Advantages
You’ll have plenty of models to choose from whichever you’re looking for a sedan, hatchback, and 4×4…etc. You’ll surely be able to find it online. Plus, most car dealer sites have a setting where you can rank the vehicles from the cheapest to most expensive. That’ll come in handy when you have a specific budget.
Disadvantages
There are many scams online. You can’t test the car before buying it, and you won’t be able to have a mechanic examine it before agreeing to the deal. So it’s a huge risk to buy a car online.
Attend an auction
Advantages
Cars are typically cheaper here.
Disadvantages
You won’t get to inspect the car as much as you want.
Here’s a trick to car auctions:
Don’t walk in there, expecting to bring a car home. Just visit and look around. If you see something you like, then ask around for it. Just remember that events like these have plenty of hidden fees, so you’d want to mentally add that up to the displayed cost to get the actual price.
Go to a dealer
Advantages
Dealers are pro. They know you’ll ask for a test drive, and they do expect you to bring a mechanic. They won’t have problems with you looking at the car. Plus, if you go to a dealer, you can see more than one vehicle that you can test.
Disadvantages
Dealers are running a business, so, of course, buying from them will cost you more.
