The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #2
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the vehicle history report.
Why a vehicle history report? These reports have become indispensable tools for the used car buyer because they provide specific details about the vehicle’s history that every prospective purchaser should know. We use two different brands – CARFAX and AutoCheck. They will tell you:
- if it was ever in an accident or had a salvaged title
- if it was damaged by Katrina, Ike, or another natural disaster
- if it was a lemon buyback
- if its mileage was falsified by rolling back the odometer (these things happen!)
- how many owners it has had (a 1-owner vehicle generally has more value)
- in which city and state the vehicle has been registered, serviced, and sold in
Some People Prefer A Car To Be Local – For example, if a car has spent time on the east coast or in snow country then undercarriage rust may be an issue (sorry, I wrote this in northern CA where snow is not an issue). With a CARFAX or AutoCheck report you can actually monitor where a car has been.
INSIDER INFORMATION – A vehicle history report is a basic, inexpensive tool that every used car buyer should use.
If you are purchasing a car from an individual you may believe you have to buy a report for yourself. However, you can ask the seller to provide a CARFAX report. That’s a good faith gesture to prove that the car has a clean vehicle history.
Any reputable dealer will provide a free vehicle history report on any vehicle in their inventory. If a dealer refuses to show you the vehicle history then run – don’t walk – the the exit. Don’t invest in a vehicle without knowing its history.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
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