How to Avoid a Bad Second-Hand Car Deal

It’s common practice for motorists to buy second, third, fourth, or even fifth-hand cars, because they’re much cheaper than buying a car brand new from the dealer, and then driving it from the lot. If you do that, the car loses a good portion of its value the moment you drive off, which means it’s not a prudent investment.

That said, buying new from a trusted dealer is absolutely a good way to ensure your vehicle is in good condition. While buying used is the default, it does open us up to the chance of being taken advantage of, suffering a bad deal, or just not noticing an issue with a car that we’ve decided to buy.

This is why it’s important to know how to avoid a bad second-hand car deal. Some trusted retailers like Hoffman Ford can make things much easier for you, providing a full-service package that grants you peace of mind.

But if working with the auto traders and pre-owned listings, how can you ensure you walk away with that which you’ve been sold on? In this post, we’ll discuss a few methods of achieving that and more:

Research The Car You Want & Know Its Specifications

The last thing you want is to learn about the car while you’re meeting the seller. If you don’t have a complete view of the car, its varied specifications and also its exact visual profile (this can help you identify any changes or body kits added), then you’re more likely to walk away with a car you think you know, but that you’ve actually just been sold on. Use worthwhile car review sites to help understand your purchase, and read user reviews through and through to understand common pitfalls or notable aspects of the vehicle.

Test The Inner Features & Check Documents

It’s important to check the ownership and service history through the documents associated with the vehicle, which should always be present. You can also check internally, such as by pulling out seatbelts to make sure they’re secure and haven’t been replaced (this might be the sign of a crash that rendered the seatbelts inoperable), as well as ensuring the dash lights or computer features work as intended. 

Pre-Purchase Inspections Help

For an added expense, you can ask a potential seller to take your vehicle to a garage and have it inspected before you buy. Of course, this will come out of your pocket, but it will also make certain that the vehicle you’re buying is as stated, and will remain reliable from then on. If you’re willing to pay and arrange this pending an offer to buy, then the seller should have little problem with your request.

Test Drive Properly

Finally, a good test drive can help you check if the care veers to each side, how the handling is, and how responsive the brakes are. On top of that, you can adjust certain elements of the car for your comfort, such as seeing if the leg room is good enough for you, if the windows are in good condition, and if features like the air con or cruise control work effectively. 

With this advice, you’re sure to avoid a bad second-hand car deal, hopefully moving on with a second-hand purchase secured and a wonderful new driving experience.