
Tips to Buy a Used Car with Confidence
Follow these Tips to Buy a Used Car with Confidence
Buying a pre-owned car is both confusing and challenging. In the
majority of the times during
the buying process, buyers are now sure about the car. Chances of false
information, faulty
parts, accidental vehicle, expired insurance, number of owners, and more
always haunt the
buyer.
With the entry of big players in the in used car sales, things are
getting organized for good.
Dealers are now offering certified cars with all the required checks.
From Cars 24 to Mahindra
First Choice, the organized used car market is expanding at a rapid
pace. However, doing
proper due diligence will not harm you before buying a used car.
Hence, instead of rushing to own a used car, here are a few essential
things you need to
consider to make a more informed decision.
#1 Use of the Car
Before buying the car, it is important to think judiciously about how
you are going to use the car.
If you need a car for your commute to the office then it is advisable to
go with a car that has
done lesser kilometers on the odometer because you will clock more
kilometers per day and
your car will face more wear and tear on a regular basis. Hence, a
relatively newer car will help
you to cut down maintenance costs.
If you want to buy a used car to run errands once in a while or as a
second car then you can
select an older model as it would face lesser wear and tear.
#2 Size of the Car
SUV, sedan, or hatchback? Instead of judging the car by its build, think
about the purpose for
which you are buying the car. If you travel alone normally or have a
small family of 2-3 people
then hatchback can meet all your needs efficiently. However, if you have
a family of 4-5 people
and also love doing long trips then you will need extra interior space
and a larger boot to
squeeze in all the luggage. In that case, you can consider a sedan or SUV.
SUV is a better
option if you also love traveling to hills or offroading.
The worth noting here is that your maintenance costs will also go up
with the size of the car.
#3 Buying a Certified Car
Instances of used car buyers being duped is a normal thing. To avoid
such unfortunate
incidents, it is better to deal with a registered used-car dealer for
your peace of mind. Look for a
certified pre-owned car to get exactly what is promised by the dealer.
Certified cars are properly
inspected and professionally refurbished with no compromise on quality.
You can also secure a
warranty of up to 1 year on certified pre-owned cars. On top of that,
used car dealers now also
offer finance facilities, service solutions, and other benefits.
#4 Inspect the Car Thoroughly
The thumb rule is to go with a preowned that has not done more than
20,000 kilometers and is
not older than 5 years. Here are other things you need to check while
inspecting a used car.
Test drive the car to inspect interiors, condition of seats,
electronics, wheel alignment,
and the performance of the engine
Check whether it starts smoothly or not and engine noise
Odometer readings can be tampered easily. Compare it with the age of
the car to call
out fraud
Inspect tyres and if they are worn out then you can bargain the price
of a new set of
tyres
Check the age of battery. Discharged battery can land you in trouble
#5 Do your Own Due Diligence
Finding the vehicle owner details, insurance, auto loan, challan, and
value of the car is often a
hassle. To find all this information about a used car, you can use apps
like CarInfo. I use this
application as its pricing tool is unbiased and all the other
information is fetched from the RTO
website. Many times, navigating through the RTO website can become
cumbersome. This app
comes in handy to find all the information easily and instantly. On top
of that, it is free of cost.
You can fill in the RTO registration number of the car to find the
number of owners, insurance
details, challans, and more. The find the fair value of a used car, you
can put in the car model
information, year of registration, and the kilometers it has done.
You can also do research on the internet about the model you are going
to buy and talk with
experts. Team-bhp.com is one of the most credible communities of
automobile enthusiasts
where you can get all the answers to your questions and doubts.