"Buying a used vehicle”

Times are hard; most of us want to have a vehicle but are deterred by the exorbitant prices that come with the acquisition of one. 

The easiest and most affordable method is buying a used or pre-owned vehicle.  Though such vehicles may seem cheap in the short run, in the long run, they could prove to be very expensive, especially, if you did not plan properly!

The used vehicle market is a major source of consumer complaints. Unfortunately, many used vehicles are bought by people who have too little information. These buyers depend largely on what they see in a quick examination. 

There are many things that can help you make an informed decision about a vehicle before you even consider a test drive. 

These may include among other things, Vehicle history reports if any, it is an industry best practice to provide the buyer with a copy of a vehicle history report as part of the sales process. 

These reports show most past incidents, whether the vehicle has been registered outside the country and if it has been used as a lease, rental, taxi, etc.  If a vehicle history report is not provided, try to ask for one, or obtain your own if you are seriously considering buying the vehicle. 

Contacting the insurance company could give you such vital data.As I once indicated, there are lots of car dealers that import salvage accident vehicles that have been written off and compensated for by insurance. 

These are then auctioned off as scrap.  Once bought, the dealers panel beat them and refurbish them; only to resell them to unsuspecting customers who are not obvious of their past!  Others have had their steering wheels changed (not by their manufacturers or authorised dealers). 

Whether or not a vehicle has a status of rebuilt, salvage, or altered, a list of any damage or damages and date the damage or damages occurred and its value or whether the vehicle has been imported with such alterations should be sought.

Once you have identified the target vehicle, a Vehicle Inspection should be carried out to ascertain the mechanical or road worthiness of the said vehicle.

Mechanical inspections are an industry best practice to provide a written dealership mechanical inspection or an independent mechanical inspection report as part of the sales process. 

Whether done by the dealership or a third party, this report will detail the mechanical condition of the vehicle. 

A dealership mechanical inspection should provide a summary of the condition of the major elements of the vehicle.  Be sure to get a copy of this report with your final documents.

If an inspection report is not provided by the dealer, you should obtain your own pre-purchase inspection if you are seriously considering buying the vehicle. 

There are a variety of vehicle inspections that can be done.  Depending on the age and condition of the vehicle and who you are buying the vehicle from, you will need to decide what type of inspection is right for you.  It is very important to buy a vehicle worth your money.  As I said, the times are hard, any cash you spend must be wisely and safely spent or else, it could amount to a waste or big loss!
 
Motoringcorner@live.co.uk