Many people choose to buy used cars rather than new ones since they cost too much. As a matter of fact, more than 50% of people in the United States buy a used car as their first vehicle purchase.
But there are a lot of factors to take into consideration when buying a used car in order not to get scammed. In this article, we are going to tell you all the things that you need to check first, before purchasing a used car.
Contents
1. Check for any misaligned body parts
Source: Arnold Clark
The first thing that you can do when buying a used car is to inspect for any misaligned body panels such as doors, body panels, trunk, and hood gaps. You need to make sure that these parts are all correctly aligned in order to get a fair price. If a car has a CAPA sticker on it, then most likely that car has undergone collision repair. Furthermore, looking for dents and kinks around the body of the car is another common practice most car buyers fail to observe.
2. Check for any shady interior
Source: mancinellis.com
If it’s one thing that used car sellers are good at, it’s covering up the cracks. They will try to do it with the exterior, and they will do it the same with the interior. When observing a car you wish to purchase, make sure to inspect the interior for any rips, stains, and cracks that cannot be fixed. Furthermore, stains and discolorations in the interior can be a sign of past flooding, which might later become a problem with your car’s electrics. When purchasing a used car, make sure to do it from a reliable vendor such as this one who sells cheap used cars in New York.
3. Avoid sellers who are too pushy and use negotiation tricks
Source: Practical Motoring
The first sign of trouble is when your seller gets pushy with you and uses tricks in order to complete the deal. When you’re buying a used car, you will meet all kinds of people. You will meet the ones that are desperate to sell their old just, and you might meet good people that will be more than happy to show everything to you and keep an honest tab.
The seller cannot get a better price if you understand the price of the car in its current condition. That’s why you can always visit websites that give you a fair price of a used car based on its current state. Furthermore, as soon as your seller gets pushy or uses any negotiation tricks, then it’s time to walk away and cancel the deal.
4. Manipulated Odometer Clocking
Source: Driving.ca
Another shady tactic that used car sellers use is changing the odometer clocking. Cars will usually pass 10,000 miles per year, and if the odometer doesn’t add up with the car’s age of purchase, then most likely your seller manipulated with the odometer. This can be a significant thing considering that there is a huge difference between 10,000 miles and 100,000 miles. If the odometer is high over a long period of time, let’s say 150,000 miles per year for a total of 10 years that means that the car has gone through A LOT.
