What to Look For When Buying A Used Vehicle

If you are thinking about buying a used vehicle then there are certain factors you

need to consider before making your purchase.

Although investing on a used vehicle seems like a wise option, one needs to be very

smart in making their selection.

In this article we are going to discuss a few basic points on what to check out before

purchasing a second hand car.

A test drive is absolutely important before buying a used vehicle:

It is advisable that you take the vehicle on a test drive on both the highways and local

roads.

Driving on the local lanes will let you know how the car responds to sharp bends.

This will also give you an idea about the condition of the brakes before buying a used

vehicle.

A drive on the highway will tell you if the engine is functioning properly.

Also pay attention for any unusual noises coming from the engine.

Check the physical condition of the car before buying a used vehicle:

The condition of the interior and the exterior of the car have a major role to play in the

determination of its value.

Just checking the tires and the

upholstery is not going to suffice.

Make sure to take a good look inside the hood and carefully inspect the parts of the

engine.

Try to stay away from cars with rusty engine parts since they are known to spell out

trouble.

Do a little research on the make and model:

One definitely needs to do his homework before purchasing an old car.

This homework should include a thorough research of reviews by customers so as to

detect the common problems experienced by the other users.

Perform the leak test:

A car leaking fluids indicates that it is time for a repair.

While test driving you need to park the car by the side of the road and let it run for

about half a minute.

Now you can shift the car and try to find out if there is any leaking substance.

While black fluid indicates leaking oil, pink fluid indicates a transmission leak and green

fluid points to a leak in anti freeze.

Do a little research on the price:

While investing in a used vehicle one needs to make sure that they are getting it for a fair

price.

For this you need to make a price comparison of the model with number of

sources.

One can easily check the dealer prices and

blue book values online.

Get the car inspected by a professional mechanic:

Many customers don’t feel the need to hire a mechanic and get the car checked before

buying a used vehicle.

This can result in exorbitant maintenance costs down the road.

He is the one who is going to tell you if the car might have any problems with the engine

or transmission in the near future.

Take a look at the vehicle history report:

This would reveal many little aspects about the vehicle like previous accidents,

ownership history and service points.

Before buying a used vehicle you need to obtain the vehicle history report from the

dealer and then come to the final decision.