Know Your Used Car Before Buying It
Do you really know the car that you are interested in buying? Sure, you have inspected its body, the frame, have looked under its hood and gone through the cabin with a fine tooth comb. You have even popped the trunk, inspected the spare tire and have checked the connections to the rear lights and turn signal indicators. Everything looks good, but is it?Chances are that the car you want to buy is just fine following your inspection. But, there is also a chance that the car has an interesting history, one that the seller may not be disclosing to you or be unaware of himself. You can avoid buying a secret clunker by keeping the following points in mind.
Repair Records
Ask the owner to inspect the vehicle’s repair records. If he is the original owner, then that information will go back to when he bought the vehicle. If he is not the first owner, he may still have the earlier records.
Review the maintenance and repair records to determine if manufacturer recommended maintenance has been met. Take note of any repairs that seem unusual such as multiple clutch replacements. In this example the seller may have been racing the car or the vehicle may have a defect where premature clutch wear will dog you.
Vehicle History
If you are satisfied with the vehicle, go to the next step by verifying its history. You have already inspected the disclosed repair records, but now you need to fill in the missing pieces especially if you are not dealing with the original owner.
Visit the National Insurance Crime Bureau website at nicb.com and enter the vehicle identification number in the appropriate VINCheck box. That 17-digit number will reveal much about your car including whether it has been damaged in a flood, the title salvaged or whether it has been in an accident. Salvaged cars can legally be sold as long as that information is disclosed by the seller to the buyer.
You can also visit CarFax.com to buy a vehicle report that may offer more details than the NICB report. Keep in mind that only reported maintenance and repair information may be listed — private repairs will not show up. You can also visit the Center for Auto Safety website to find information about other problems peculiar to your make and model such as defects, recalls and service bulletins. Intend to know as much about the vehicle as possible — you want to buy a reliable ride not a potential clunker.
Warranty Information
If you are buying a late model used car, it may still be under warranty. What you need to do is confirm with the manufacturer that warranties will transfer to you. You may need to pay a fee to the manufacturer to make this happen.
Cars that are under three years old and have low mileage may still be covered by a bumper to bumper warranty. Other warranties include rust protection, a power train warranty and special warranties for hybrid vehicles. If you buy your used vehicle through a car dealer, learn if there is special certified used vehicle warranty in place.
Mechanic Inspection
Your mechanic should be able to tell if the odometer reading is accurate just by inspecting the car. Your seller will need to sign an affidavit attesting to the car’s mileage, but that attestation my be inaccurate or false. Let your mechanic help you with that.
Buyer Considerations
Once you are sure that the car you looking at is the right one for you, make your payment to the seller. Contact your insurance company immediately and register your car with the department of motor vehicles. Pay your taxes, tags and registration fee, and enjoy your new wheels!
Scott Johnson is a travel writer who blogs for companies like Protectyourbubble.com, an affordable rental car insurance brand Protect Your Bubble.
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Category: Car Purchase
