Me 2 You Tips For Buying A Second Hand Car

Buying a second car is the norm these days as everyone knows that by driving a brand new car off the forecourt, the car has already lost a few thousand pounds of its value. So what do you need to check before purchasing a nearly new or second hand car? Before you go to a showroom how about researching what cars you like and then read the reviews on them? Once you have narrowed it down to about three cars, you should start test driving them and finding a reasonable budget to purchase the car. There are many good bargains to get hold of in the current cash strapped climate so by negotiating further, you may be able to get a year's free tax disc included or 1 year warranty added as an extra incentive.

Tips for buying a second hand car

There are many ways to purchase a second hand car with the most popular being local car dealerships - remember to check the classified section in the local newspaper and internet motoring sites. Below are a few things you should look out for:

• Always check the log book to see if the car has had any previous problems
• Check over the vehicle thoroughly for scrapes, dents and scratches before purchasing as you may be able to knock off some money
• Go online and do a vehicle value check to see if the car you would like is overpriced or if it's underpriced, you might want to ask why
• You have more rights purchasing with a car dealership than a private sale so bear this in mind
• Mileage should be a factor when purchasing a car as an average car has 10,000 on the clock a year so if a car is a few years old with a high mileage, it may have been used for business purposes as well, so be careful
• Always test drive the car first before making a decision as it's not the same as test driving a new car. Test it on different types of roads such as the motorway and bending roads
• Cars over three years need an annual MOT, make sure all documentation is up to date

If you are still not sure and don't mind spending an extra £3.95 (minimum), then go to the DVLA and have a car data check to see further information that may have been withheld. You can check how many previous owners the car has had and if the car has ever been stolen as well.