The used or second-hand car market has always been very alive as it allows access to a vehicle at an affordable price. The buying public is very broad, from young people who are starting to drive to the unemployed who need transportation to look for work and then to go to the center where they are employed, going through all kinds of profiles: small companies, families looking for a second car …
With the global economic crisis that has plagued so many countries for years, the sale of used vehicles has skyrocketed obviously due to price issues. In this broad business there are several types of sellers as well, because on the one hand there are specialized businesses and trademark dealers who resell revised cars of their brand or even from other firms, and on the other, there are private citizens.
For the latter, there are a multitude of paper magazines and web pages where all kinds of cars and vehicles are put up for sale, such as motorcycles, trucks, scooters, etc. You can even find, not just forums and websites dedicated to a brand, but to specific models that have many fans of that specific car.
In all cases, the fact of buying a used car is not without risk, since the honesty of people will always intervene when it comes to not hiding faults and defects, and their impact on the final price.
So that you can decide to buy a second-hand vehicle without the operation being unsuccessful, we give you some recommendations that can be very useful on how to buy a used car.
Individual or dealer?
The first decision is already very important, and it is to choose if you are going to look for the car that interests you in a specialized company or in the private market. If you opt for brand dealers or a second-hand business, you know that you will have greater legal guarantees that will protect you from many problems in the face of what may later be a purchase that you are not very satisfied with, whether due to a vice hidden or for another reason that could make the car cheaper, for example. In the case of making the purchase from a private citizen, you can protect yourself by signing a contract, which will stipulate the characteristics of the vehicle, age, small defects, payment terms and price, which you will always have to negotiate with the seller. Even so, defense in case of problems is more difficult,
The appraisal
Check the price they ask for, since there are tables and guides from professional car buying and selling associations that give the prices for each year for each model and version according to its age, mileage and characteristics. This reference will help you to know the maximum price that you must pay for a specific model, but in general it is above many of the private prices that you will find in your search.
Question without shame
When you make an appointment with the seller to see the car, do not hesitate to ask everything that comes to mind without any shame, and be inquisitive. Ask him about the mileage he says he has, how many owners the car has had, the breakdowns and visits to the workshop it has suffered, if he has had accidents, consumption both on the highway and in the city, the reasons that move him to sell it, who is the person who has used it for a longer time… All this information is very valuable so that you get to know the car you are looking at as well as possible and it will help you in your purchase decision, which will normally take place after a negotiation between you and the seller.
The inspection
Inspect the car carefully, as the data that the seller offers you will always tend to be presented from the best perspective. Look at both the exterior appearance and the details, and especially the engine. Review the state of the interior compartment, the underbody of the vehicle, the screws, the electronics, the air conditioning, the oil levels. All this will give you a clue about the situation of the car and its maintenance up to the present. It is recommended that the inspection be carried out in daylight, with good light, which will allow defects in the sheet metal or paint, the tires and the most hidden parts of the interior and trunk to stand out. Ideally, you can be accompanied by someone who knows mechanics, but this, obviously, is not going to be the most common.
Check the documentation
Carefully review the circulation permit, the ITV certificate, the technical sheet, the insurance it has had, and verify that the seller is the sole owner and that there are no pending payments. In case of doubt, you can check with the Directorate General of Traffic.
Test drive
Do not decide to buy without testing the car and do it with a varied route that allows you to drive both in the city and on the highway, and test the greatest number of situations of daily traffic to which a car is subjected, even reversing .
Insurance
Once you decide to buy the car, it is highly recommended that you carry out all the administrative procedures as soon as possible, especially the insurance, because this way you will be covered for any mishap from the moment you get behind the wheel of a new car. You will have to assess whether it is worth taking out all-risk insurance or perhaps the minimum will be enough.
