Important steps to take when buying a used car

Buying a used car can be a great way to make savings

, especially with depreciating value meaning good-as-new vehicles often go for thousands less than they would straight out of the showroom. However, there are many factors you need to consider when investigating used vehicles, to make sure the car you buy truly offers value for money.

Inspecting your used car should start before you even see it in person. If you've seen an advert posted online or in a trade magazine, or you've just driven past a driveway with a car for sale that's caught your eye, compare similar used cars on the internet or in magazines like AutoTrader to confirm that the asking price truly reflects what it should for the car's age, make, model and condition.

So far so good, but you should also check the seller's reputability. If you're responding to a used car advertisement, check whether the seller uses the word 'Trade' or the signifier 'T,' as this means you'll have the same buying rights as you would from a new dealer, and can be a safer option than buying privately - though bear in mind that sellers could use this deceptively. A handy method you can use to check whether the seller is lying about their tradesman status is to phone them up asking about 'the car' - if they know which car you mean straight away, that could mean they aren't legitimate and are simply selling from their driveway.

That's not to say you shouldn't buy from private sellers though, especially as this can be where you find the best bargains. Most sellers will be open and honest about their vehicle's history, but you can check whether there are any issues they are avoiding by phoning or meeting in person with a detailed list of questions - asking about everything from the number of previous owners to their reason for selling, the mileage and whether it has any outstanding repairs or maintenance, such as chip repair. If the latter is the case and they lower their price to reflect the condition, you could find it a cheaper option to drive it away and get the repairs done yourself.

The final and most important step when buying your used car is to give it a thorough inspection. Even if you aren't an expert on cars, you can learn the tricks and best areas to look for quite easily. This means everything from inspecting the bodywork for scratches, rust and uneven paintwork to making sure the wheels, tyres and brakes are in good condition and that the vehicle glass is free of scratches and cracks that could mean the whole windscreen needs to be replaced.

Important steps to take when buying a used car

By: Paul Buchanan

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