Getting a good deal on a used car is no less than winning a lottery; most of the time, the reason that someone sells their car is that it’s getting old. So, getting a fairly good car is a big deal.
Most people underestimate the advantages of a used car and hence don’t think much about it when buying one. Sometimes a deal is just too good to be true, and you start to wonder if you’re being scammed by a pro.
Panic not, here’s a list of things you can check to truly know if you’re getting a good deal on a used car.
The pricing
Let’s talk about the most important thing first. A good deal starts with the price of a vehicle. So how do you know if you’re getting a fair price on a used car? You can compare the price you’re stated with the price of the same vehicle online.
There are many ‘true market value calculators’ on the internet that help you compare prices across different websites to help you find the best deal. Kelly Blue Book is one of the most popular websites that will give you a figure based on real-life market data they collected. By doing that, you will have a clear idea of where your deal will fall into, financially.
However, if you’re not confident about your research skills, you can consult a professional mechanic. Moreover, the mechanic can also inspect the vehicle, informing you whether or not it’s a good deal.
Revs Check Report
This will give you an idea of how long the car has been owned by the current owner and how well it has been maintained. It will help you to avoid purchasing a vehicle that has had problems in the past.
You should also be able to get an idea of how reliable the car is based on the number of miles that have been driven on it. You can use this information to help you decide whether or not you want to buy the vehicle. So, Revs Check Australia can help you know if the deal on the car is worth it.
Incentives and Rebates
After you’ve chosen the price range, look for any incentives and rebates that may be at hand. For example, even the manufacturers offer a hidden incentive to the dealers to move a specific model off the floor.
Similarly, special financing, lease special, cash rebates, etc., are other incentives that you should look for. Moreover, you should also check with your employer company whether they have any specific deals with a manufacturer or a specific model.
But first off, you should always negotiate the base price of the car as low as possible. Moreover, if you’re buying from an individual rather than a resale company, you will not be getting any incentives.
Extra Fees you are paying
After you’ve made up your mind, you will be greeted by a formal contract stating the purchase of the car. The contract will have a list of fees you are enlisted to pay.
A good deal typically has only three fees; vehicle registration fees, local taxes, and a reasonable documentation fee. The seller or dealer might try to include their own expenditure on the same tab, expenditure such as market adjustment, be wary of such events, and back out if the fees are too high.
Maintenance Records
Usually, the dealership or seller will hand you the maintenance record without asking for it, but in some cases, you may have to ask for it. If the dealership or seller doesn’t give you the maintenance records, it’s best to walk off the deal.
Maintenance records hold all the information about the vehicle’s past, the date of manufacture, any accidents it has been through, any lingering issues, and other things. If the maintenance record is clean and the pricing is just under your budget, you got yourself a great deal.
On the other hand, if the maintenance record shows some minor issues or a past accident, then you can fetch the car for an even lower price.
State Certification
If the seller already has a state certification, you are in for a good deal as conforming to state safety regulation inspection can cost you a lot of money. In addition to that, ask the seller to do a smog check as they can be expensive.
If the seller agrees, then it’s a good deal for you. If not, you can try and lower the base price of the car. And lastly, ask him to do a full-body inspection by a professional mechanic. If he doesn’t agree to it, you can do it yourself. All the papers mentioned above are not mandatory, but if your seller provides them, it’s a sign of a good deal.
Title
Every used vehicle has a title certificate that shows the vehicle’s condition and whether it has a branded title. Branded titles sell a lot less than clear titles so if you’re getting a clear title car, consider it a good sign.
Titles such as salvage, rebuilt, flood vehicles, and total loss are branded titles which is a big red flag. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the car is no good. But it does mean that you can get a lower price than the initial price. With branded title vehicles, only proceed if the vehicle is in good condition.
Knowing the buyer and Return Policies
If you personally know the buyer or maybe you are even a close acquaintance, in such cases, it’s usually a good deal because there is some degree of emotional value in the transaction. The seller will obviously give it at a much lower price to you than a random person from the stranger.
An individual seller will likely not give you a return policy, but most companies have a 7-day-return policy or maybe even a 30-day-return policy. Such a policy is a sign that the company is confident in the car they are selling. More than likely, you will not have to return the car.
Physical Condition
The same model of car, manufactured in the same year and with the same odometer reading, has the same resale value, but their physical condition will vary depending on the driver’s usage. If the car has rust, scratches, or bumps, it will reduce the price.
As for the interiors, check for excessive wear-and-tear; maybe the previous owner was a savage and didn’t care much about the car. In such cases, you are not getting a good deal, and checking the used car can be good.
If you decide to roll with the car anyway, lower the price indicating the bad condition of interiors and exteriors. You might be getting a good deal that way. However, if the vehicle’s mechanical condition is good, that’s the main selling point.
Concluding, If you are looking to buy a used car, there are a few things you should look for in order to ensure you get a great deal on your next vehicle. We hope this article was helpful.