Buying used cars

Buying used cars can be much of a problem if you know nothing about cars. So it is better to inform yourself before you make a purchase that you might regret later on. So familiarise yourself with some of the points listed below.

What is the value of the used car in question?

You don’t want to pay more than you should, do you? And trying to estimate the value of the used car yourself is no good. So you need to know the real market value for that particular car make/model/year. How? Well you can always check local newspaper, ask a qualified mechanic or check it on the Internet. Parkers is a good site to check the actual market value of a used car.

Check the Vehicle Service History

If you can get hold of the vehicle service history book, then you can get a better idea of how well the car has been maintained. You will also know what was wrong with the car and what was repaired. Information like this is very helpful because it gives more insight into the car you are planning to buy. So if you had a choice between a car which had previous problems with its engine and another one with past problems with its electric windows, you will surely go for the second one because at least your car will not break down while you're driving and it is going to cost you less to repair the electric windows than the engine.

How about a test drive in the used car?

Think about it - you are going to drive the car if you decide to buy it. So why not go for a test drive and see what it feels like? Looking good from outside and the inside can sometimes be very tempting because you are easily attracted to the bodywork but the mechanics of the car need to be in top condition as well. However you need to enjoy driving the car as well because this is what you are going to do after you’ve purchased it. Give it a go, and remember to test all the features of the car eg CD Player, Electric Windows, Central Locking etc.

The other costs associated with buying a car (car insurance, road tax, fuel, mot)

Having the money to afford a used car is not the only thing. What's the point of having a car if you can’t drive it because of the other finances involved? Therefore think further ahead, how much car insurance will cost you for this car (find out what car insurance group it belongs to, Group 1 is the cheapest and Group 50 is the most expensive of all). Also your road tax will depend on how much carbon is emitted from the car ie the greater the carbon emission; the more you will be paying for road tax. Fuel consumption is another thing you should bear in mind because fuel prices are getting higher and higher these days and buying a car with better fuel economy will be to your best advantage.