subject: Buy Your New Car With Inchcape Lexus [print this page] Buying a used car can potentially cause some pitfalls that you do not want to encounter, however by following some simple guidelines the entire process should be rather pain free. I recently purchased a used Inchcape Lexus and have experienced first hand what you need to look out for when buying a used car.
Firstly you need to do you research, research the type of car you want and understand about the model and the average going price. Create in your head your own budget and include insurance, road tax and running costs when you are working out your final figures. Look at online car sales and buy automobile papers to find out if the asking price you are given for your car isn't too high, and equally isn't too low.
If you are buying a car from a private seller and not a dealer such as the Inchcape Lexus dealer I dealt with then make notes when speaking to them on the phone. Ask how long they have owned the car, if the car has had a recent MOT, is the vehicle taxed? Ask what condition the car is in, why they are choosing to sell it, if it has ever been involved in an accident and what features the car has. It is also very important that you have a landline contact number for the seller, as well as a mobile.
Once you have researched your car and found a seller then the smartest thing you can do next is do a car history check, consider it an investment. The check will clarify to you is the car has been reported stolen, has outstanding finance on it, has it been written off and what the full specifications of the car should be.
Always visit the car seller at their home address, not anywhere else. Check that the address you are asked to visit is the same one listed on the V5C document and that it hasn't been amended at all. Take the original advert for the car with you to the visit and the notes that you made during your phone call. This will mean that you are able to check all of the details of the sale are the same and have not changed at the visit. If you are ever in doubt then make sure you check everything carefully, many people have been conned this way. Alternatively use an official dealer such as the Inchcape Lexus dealer I used when looking for my new car, you can then purchase your used car with confidence.
