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> Used Car Buying Advice
HelpFindMeA.co.uk has prepared a checklist for you to help in buying a used car. You should use this as guidance on some of the steps to take when making a purchase.
Always ensure you know as much about the car as possible. Ensure the vehicle meets your requirements. Our adverts will have extensive data about the car standard & technical specification if the data is available.
Know the vehicle’s value and worth. Use our expert
car valuation service and get the car valued.
Ensure you have sufficient funds to meet the costs that may be required. Budget for your Insurance, Road Tax, Fuel costs and any other costs. Our adverts will display road tax and fuel costs if the data is available.
Understand what you want to achieve out of the call. You need to ask some questions so that you are able to vet out a potential used car. You don’t want a wasted trip at all. Some questions might be: -
- How long have you had the car?
- Does it have Tax?
- When was it last Serviced and MOT?
- What is the condition of the car inside and outside?
- Is the vehicle in good working order?
- Has the vehicle been modified in any way?
- What is the current mileage?
- Has the car been involved in an accident?
- Why are you selling it?
And if it all seems to tick the boxes you wanted, ask for a registration number of the car so you can carry out a
car history check. Arrange the meeting through day light to ensure good visibility of the car.
A
car history check is a small expense to protect you and your piece of mind.
What does a vehicle history check for?
- It checks if the car has been marked as stolen.
- It checks the car to ensure is not still on finance.
- It checks the car has not been subject to an insurance write off.
- It checks the car has not been scrapped.
- It checks the full vehicle specification so you can ensure it matches the advertised used car.
- It also checks the cars identity. So you can check the Vehicle’s Identification Number (VIN) and this should match.
Plan your journey and allow plenty of time for the meeting.
Take all the relevant notes and questions you may want answering or clarifying.
Take any relevant contact numbers with you.
Take a copy of the advert with you to ensure it is the same car as described. You are able to print the adverts out online.
And make sure you notify a friend or relative where you are going.
This section is all about ensuring the car is as described and making sure it will do the job you want it to.
- Check all the paperwork, ensure the logbook matches the car and vehicle history check and VIN numbers. Ensure the service history, MOT certificate and road tax are present.
- Always start from the outside of the car and work your way in. Check body panels for damages, difference in colour, different parts and gaps in the panels that don’t match can be signs of accident damage in the past.
- Ensure you look for rusts, dents and scratches.
- Check the boot of the car and look under to ensure the spare tyre is present, spare tyre tread, check the jack and wrench is present, check the boot is not damaged or rippled so you can see if any accident damage has occurred from the rear.
- Check under the bonnet, check the oil level, and check the oil cap for white gunk – sign of head gasket going, check for rust, weld joints, check for leaks and check the VIN numbers match your vehicle history check. You can also check under the windscreen and by the driver’s floor.
- Check under the car and make sure nothing seems to be hanging loose, leakages or rust. Check the tyres for tread levels.
- Check the inside of the car now including seats, buttons, switches and radio.
- Listen to the car starting and watch for any major and excessive smoke coming out of the exhaust.
- Test drive the car and ensure you are insured to do so with your car insurance company.
- Listen to any abnormal noises, braking problems, steering alignments and the general drive of the car. Get to drive on some different road conditions, hills, dual carriageways, traffic jams and just imagine the car is yours. Do you feel comfortable?
If you need a longer test drive tell the seller. You need to ensure you have had a drive of the car.
If you do not like the car or doesn’t feel right then walk away. There is no point wasting time trying to negotiate the price if you don’t like it enough to buy it. It will waste your time and their time.
Now you are happy with the car then it’s time to negotiate a deal.
Question yourself; what problems were there that were not described? Use these to negotiate as these are essential work that needs to be addressed.
Make an offer to the seller and wait. They either say yes or makes another suggestion.
They are looking to get as much as they can naturally and you want it as cheap as you can naturally. Then go up to a happy medium. “Meet me half way and we will have a deal” and put your hands out to shake.
Deal accepted. Excellent you have just bought a new car. Well not quite as its paperwork time and you must both ensure this is completed for both parties protection. You may not be able to take delivery this minute as you may need to sort your finances out to transfer cleared funds to the seller.
You have already checked the paperwork but there is no harm checking again. Best be safe than sorry.
Check the seller is the registered keeper and owner as they are selling the car. So it must be his/hers.
Ensure the log book is completed whilst you are present.
Ensure all the keys and fobs are present.
Ensure a receipt is completed for both parties with the car and sellers details on. Make the payment and take the car. The seller will always want cleared funds so ensure you arrange this with your bank.