Buy Second Hand with Confidence
As nice as it would be to buy a new car every year – or to go into a garage with a wallet full of £50’s and take your pick - the reality is that if you want to change your car, buying second hand is often the best option. Even if you could afford that new car, an increasing number of motorists are becoming turned off by the rapid depreciation of ‘this year’s’ car, and would rather pick up something that’s a couple of years old for half the price.
Whether you’re spending £200 or £20,000, you should always wear your ‘cautious hat’ when checking out your second hand car options. Whether you’re going private or buying from a dealer, be aware of...
• The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Check the one on the car against the one on the registration document to ensure that what you see is what you get.
• Value for money. Check guides to see how much the car should cost (What Car offer a free valuation service, click here). If you have a ‘ballpark’ figure, then you can negotiate around this if you’re looking for a discount due to damage or the car having no service history.
• Check it out. You can never spend too much time looking a second-hand car over: you wouldn’t buy a house without having a survey! If you don’t think that you know enough to make an informed assessment then take a friend who does. Or if you don’t want to jeopardise any friendships if your friend gives it the “all clear” and the head gasket’s gone, then make use of a recognised inspection service: the AA have one which costs from £122.
• Check the mileage. If there is no service history available then look for telltale signs of wear and tear. Worn areas which suggest a car has done more than a few thousand miles include the gearstick, brake pedal and steering wheel. The upholstery may often tell a different story to the bodywork too.
• Check the seller. Although you may pay more, you do have more rights should things go wrong if you buy from a registered dealer. You may also be able to negotiate an improved warranty for peace of mind. Beware of dealers who try to sell vehicles ‘privately’ to avoid their rights. When you call, ask about ‘the car’, if their response is ‘which one?’ be suspicious.
• Test drive. Probably the most important test of all. Take the car for at least a 15 minute test drive. Go through all the gears, test the brakes and keep an eye on the temperature. If there are any clunks or the seller starts looking a bit shady or talking loudly every time you put it into 3rd gear: give it a miss!
Whatever type of car you go for, if it has a service history then this shows that the seller has ensured that it is well taken care of and have taken steps to keep everything running smoothly. As well as showing that the car is in good condition, it also suggests that the seller is conscientious. Bear this in mind with your own cars: a well serviced car (keep the evidence!) holds its value much better.