| Are you in the marketplace for buying a second | | | | you shouldn’t part with your money before |
| hand motor vehicle? Choosing the right vehicle | | | | you’ve carried out a HPI check on the car. A |
| which is good value for money and will be reliable | | | | HPI check can highlight whether the car actually |
| in the long term can be quite difficult. You can help | | | | belongs to the person who says it does, whether |
| yourself make the right decision by following | | | | the car has ever been registered stolen or has |
| some basic guidelines that can help you choose | | | | been written off in an accident. Also a HPI check |
| between the bargain cars and the ones that will | | | | will discover if there is outstanding finance on the |
| cause you long term misery. Read our top ten | | | | vehicle, if there is then the car could be legally be |
| tips for buying a used car guide. | | | | taken from you and handed back to the finance |
| 1) Pick a Budget and Stick to It. | | | | company as they legally own it, even if you have |
| When you are buying a used car it is easy to get | | | | parted with your money to buy the car. A HPI |
| carried away when you’re already spending a | | | | check can cost as little as £19.99 and provide |
| lot of money- a few hundred pounds more to | | | | you with peace of mind and stop you from |
| secure the ‘car of your dreams’ can | | | | getting a nasty surprise in the future. |
| easily seem reasonable, but could leave you in | | | | 6) Auctions |
| debt. Remember there are always other | | | | Unless you’re confident of your skills when it |
| expenses that you have to pay for when you | | | | comes to buying a used car or have mechanical |
| buy a car, such as Road Tax and insurance. | | | | knowledge it is best to avoid going to a car |
| Before you start looking for a new car decide on | | | | auction or to buy a used car. Although you can |
| a budget and religiously stick to it, that way you | | | | pick up a low cost deal on a used car at an |
| can be assured good value for money. | | | | auction you do only have a limited amount of |
| 2) View the Car in Daylight | | | | time to view individual cars. Also if you bid and |
| When you do finally decide to go to look at a car, | | | | win then you are contractually obliged to purchase |
| don’t make the mistake of going to see the | | | | the vehicle. |
| car at night. Perhaps you have a full time job and | | | | 7) Do Your Homework |
| it isn’t possible to leave work to go and view | | | | Don’t go to look at a vehicle without doing |
| a car in the week and you think that the car in | | | | some research about the car first. You should |
| question may be sold by the time the weekend | | | | learn about the different models available, which |
| comes around. Although it can be a temptation to | | | | ones are more desirable and command more |
| save time and ‘jump the queue’ of other | | | | money, you should try to find out what known |
| potential purchases, going to see a car at night | | | | faults are on the vehicle and get a general |
| can leave you open for an upset. Basically you will | | | | understanding about the car in questions. The |
| not be able to get a good look at the condition of | | | | internet is a great place to start to compile this |
| the car in poor visibility. Instead of being impatient | | | | information, with car clubs and general car sites |
| either wait until the weekend or take a day off | | | | often giving you really good quality information |
| work and go and see a group of cars to make | | | | about individual vehicles. Also explore trade |
| the most of your time. | | | | magazines and online sales portals to get an |
| 3) Consider an Inspection | | | | understanding on how much certain models and |
| Lack mechanical knowledge about motor vehicles? | | | | vehicles go for. You don’t want to pay over |
| For those who don’t know their big end from | | | | the odds for a car just because you’ve not |
| their fuel injection system perhaps a professional | | | | bothered to do any homework. |
| mechanical appraisal may be a sensible option. | | | | 8) Don’t Buy the First Car You See |
| Although there will be an expense involved with | | | | It can be quite an effort trying to find a car to |
| this you will get peace of mind from discovering | | | | buy, with the search online often not highlighting |
| what if anything is wrong with the vehicle. Also by | | | | any cars close to where you live it can be |
| telling the vendor you are going to get a | | | | tempting when you finally go to see a car to buy |
| mechanical appraisal then you will be able to see | | | | it just because it seems OK and because you |
| how they react to this. If they suddenly looked | | | | can’t be bothered to go and look at any |
| panicked and try to dissuade you then you can | | | | others. This can prove to be quite a big mistake |
| presume that there may be something wrong | | | | as you cannot get a feel for the overall quality of |
| with the car that they are trying to hide. If a | | | | the car until you have seen a few of the same |
| mechanical appraisal does highlight problems with a | | | | model. For instance the interior could look a little |
| car, this doesn’t mean that you should walk | | | | ‘scrappy’, but unless you’ve seen a |
| away from the motor vehicle- all cars can | | | | cross section of cars for sale how do you know |
| develop faults. Instead judge as to how much | | | | if this is a one off problem or inherent with all the |
| these issues are likely to cost to repair as this can | | | | cars from the range? Check out a few newer |
| give you additional bargaining power with the | | | | and older examples of the model you are |
| vendor to get a discount. However, if in doubt | | | | interesting in, you can get to see how the car |
| walk away from the deal, there is always another | | | | ages over time and whether it holds up well when |
| car out there! | | | | the additional miles are racked up. |
| 4) Take it For a Test Drive | | | | 9) Take Someone With You For a Second Opinion |
| You’ll definitely need to take any prospect | | | | It may be a cliché to go and look at a car |
| car you are looking to buy for a test drive prior | | | | ‘mob handed’ and go around the vehicle |
| to purchase. If this is an unfamiliar vehicle then | | | | ‘tyre kicking’ but it is important to get a |
| you’ll get a sense as to whether you’ll | | | | second opinion from someone you trust. If that |
| actually enjoy driving the car, whether the | | | | second person is a mechanic all the better, but if |
| performance suits your needs and to whether | | | | not get your friend to discuss the car with you |
| the actual model is right for you? Are the seats | | | | and give you an honest appraisal about the car in |
| comfortable? This may not make so much | | | | question. Having more than one person can also |
| difference for a car for vehicle you won’t | | | | be advantageous as unscrupulous sellers may try |
| use much apart from short journeys around | | | | ‘distraction techniques’ such as keeping |
| town, but if you’re looking for a car to do | | | | you talking and not allowing you a proper look at |
| long motorway journeys in you need to ensure | | | | the car. This is much harder to do when there is |
| that the ride is comfortable. | | | | more than one person looking over the vehicle. |
| Even more importantly a test drive gives you the | | | | 10) Buy from a Reputable Dealer |
| chance to check out some of the fundamentals | | | | If you’re really worried about buying a used |
| about the vehicle in question. How are the brakes, | | | | car you may want to consider buying from a |
| do they work well? How does the engine sound, | | | | reputable dealer, as these companies generally |
| does the car judder when you drive along? Does | | | | provide cars which have passed mechanical |
| the gear box change smoothly. Avoid having the | | | | checks and MOTs. Other dealer facilities often |
| radio on when you’re carrying out your test | | | | include car loans meaning you can get a better |
| drive as you’ll want to listen out for any | | | | car than you thought you might be able to afford. |
| erroneous noises coming from the vehicle. | | | | The newer the car the less likely it is to be |
| 5) Get a HPI Check | | | | affected by mechanic issues and breakdowns |
| You may find the car of your dreams and on the | | | | which can also go to ease the worries of buying a |
| face of it could look like a fantastic bargain, but | | | | second hand car. |