If you are not familiar with the process of buying a used car the whole procedure can be an extremely daunting affair, especially when there are a number of unscrupulous sellers out there waiting to catch out unsuspecting buyers. However providing you have done some preparation and had the vehicle carefully checked out its very easy to grab yourself a bargain.

To begin the purchase process for a used automobile the first step it to examine your finances. Going through your financials will tell you exactly what you can spend on the vehicle. You will need to think about the fuel, insurance, service needs, and day to day running costs. You will also need to factor in any payments for a loan if you must subsidise your purchase.

Once you have worked out all of your finances, you should now have an absolute maximum figure that your are prepared to spend on buying a used car. This is very important as it determines the type, age and mileage of vehicle that you can afford to buy. With the budget settled, use the internet, car magazines and local newspapers to help you narrow the search down to a few cars that would suit you.

Before setting off to view a car, make sure you carry out plenty of research on the model and look at what kind of price other sellers are offering for the same mileage and condition. Consider what optional extras were available with that particular model for example alloy wheels, xenon headlights or a CD autochanger and if your car is lacking these it can be used as a bargaining point.

Do not schedule an appointment to see the vehicle if you do not have enough time to spend overlooking it. You need to spend several minutes looking over the condition of the outside, engine and the overall vehicle. Rain can hinder bodywork issues, thus you should cancel the appointment if it is raining. If you are not well versed in mechanics bring a friend or take it to an inspector. The car should be run through a HPI check for validity purposes.

If you are serious about buying the car you will need to take it out for a good twenty minutes test drive. During the drive points to check include is the gearbox smooth, is there any play in the steering, does the car track straight, are there any suspicious clonks or mechanical noises and also carry out an emergency stop to check the car brakes safely in a straight line.

When it comes to doing the deal you need to be firm and polite and don’t be pressurised into making the deal. Always start the negotiations at a low price, as you can still raise your offer at a later stage, and use any faults you found during the inspection and test drive, and a lack of optional extras as bargaining points.

At the conclusion of the talk in which you purchase the car the seller needs to submit the V5 registration with a proper receipt of sale. You should think about adding a warranty to the purchase even though it might be costly. The warranty will pay for itself and reduce your stress while driving the vehicle.

Tags: Auto

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