For many people, including me, buying a used car has never been easy.
Although these cars come with a host of benefits, from saving you a lot of money, to potentially avoiding new car fees, most of us don’t realise that the secondhand car market is rife with peril. I recommend that you go slow and look, if you want to get it right.
In my experience, buying a trouble-free car has nothing to do with luck – you must know how to determine the reliability of the vehicle and how to spot the potential car problems that the seller is not willing to disclose to you. To help you get value for your money, I came up with the following red flags that I use every time I go out looking for a second-hand car. Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Get the car history report
Did you know that a car history report is an inexpensive document that contains invaluable information about the car you are interested in buying? Yes, that’s right.
But where and how can you get that report? Two main sources provide this information – AutoCheck and Fax. I use the reports to know how many people have used the car, how frequent it needed repair and whether it has been involved in any accident before.
Dealers are not legally needed to disclose if the vehicle has a lemon title, but sometimes it is important for the dealer to tell us whether the car is a manufacturer buyback or not. Either way, it is up to you to do your due diligence to check into that car’s history report.
So, if you unknowingly buy a lemon car, you might be out of luck since it was your responsibility to check in the first place. Most people are looking for a fuel efficient, reliable car that doesn’t cost an arm and leg, and fears are well placed when it comes to buying a used car these days.
2. Repair history of the vehicle
With my mechanical experience, I have learned that the car’s repair history is another strong indicator to determine whether the vehicle is a lemon or not.
Usually, I take a close look at the repair history to note any recurring repairs. Moreover, I check whether the car’s issues are wear and tear or more serious problems, not to mention if those repairs were required even when the car was new.
If you find any recurring issues, I recommend you avoid that car.
It is also worth checking whether the repairs are superficial or serious. Serious problems are more difficult to handle, but if the car has superficial problems, it might not give you headaches as such.
Finally, check if regular car maintenance has been performed before you can invest your hard-earned money in it.
3. Pre-purchase inspection
Sometimes you may decide to buy a car that has been labeled a lemon if you think that the issues are not too worrisome, or perhaps you are convinced beyond doubt that it was mislabeled as one. However, you should get a pre-purchase inspection if you don’t want to get it wrong.
A certified mechanic can tell why the car was titled a lemon and whether it’s issues are fixable or not. However, if the seller doesn’t want to hire an independent mechanic, I advise that you move to the next seller – the car probably has reoccurring issues that the seller doesn’t want you to know.
4. Check the exterior
I always begin by walking around the car, checking for dents, mismatched body panels, chipped windows, chipped paint and broken lamp housings.
Also, I can use a small magnet to test for the presence of body filler – if I see that the magnet does not stick on the car panel, the car may have filler under the paint, which hints that it may be a lemon car. Inconsistent welds around doors, trunk or hood also indicate repairs.
At the end of the day, it is your time and money, and so you should not rush into making a decision that you will live to regret. The tips highlighted in this article are just an eye opener, but there is much to be done before investing your money on a used car. Beware of “scammers!”
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mom81879 said
- 24 Feb 2020
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Blossom said
- 17 Jan 2019
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Mum2archer said
- 15 Dec 2018
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mom300317 said
- 17 Jul 2018
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ashna9 said
- 12 Oct 2017
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mom162203 said
- 02 Oct 2017
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taynik46 said
- 01 Oct 2017
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mom94125 said
- 28 Sep 2017
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country chick said
- 17 Sep 2017
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june11 said
- 13 Jul 2017
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mom90758 said
- 29 Jun 2017
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Ellen said
- 29 Jun 2017
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mom90758 said
- 28 Jun 2017
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mom206279 said
- 28 Jun 2017
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mom160421 said
- 28 Jun 2017
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BellaB said
- 28 Jun 2017
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mom112217 said
- 28 Jun 2017
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