It’s important to learn as much as you can about a vehicle before you buy it. You’re spending a lot of money and you want to ensure there are no surprises when you drive off the lot. To that end, below are some questions you should ask when buying a used car. These questions will help you learn all of the important information about a vehicle so that you feel comfortable with your decision.
What Is the Ownership History?
One of the first things you should ask about is the ownership history of the vehicle. There are a few things you’ll want to look for within the ownership history. First, you should look at how long the last owner had the vehicle. If the previous owner only had the vehicle for a short time, this could be a sign that they were unhappy with the vehicle for some reason. Review how many owners there have been. If there are several owners over a short period of time, this could indicate that each owner had issues with the vehicle.
Finally, look at who the previous owners were. Specifically, you’re looking for whether the previous owner was an individual or a rental agency. If it was a rental agency, this means that the vehicle was driven by many different people who may not have taken proper care of it. While not always the case, generally speaking, it’s preferable to buy a used vehicle that comes from an individual owner rather than a rental agency.
What Is the Vehicle’s Service History?
Ask about the service history of the vehicle. The service history can tell you whether the previous owners took proper care of the car. You want to ensure that the vehicle received regular maintenance such as oil changes as well as new tires and new brake pads. Check the service history to see if the vehicle had any major repairs. An older vehicle with a new transmission suggests you don’t need to worry about replacing the transmission during your ownership. Most used car dealerships can provide you with service history for any of their vehicles.
What is the Vehicle’s Accident History?
Be sure to ask about the accident history of the vehicle. If a car gets into an accident, it can cause some significant long-term damage. A car may look great from the outside but still have issues with the interior. With an accident history, you can ensure that there are no underlying issues with the vehicle before you purchase it, or at least know about the issues so that you can factor them into how much you’re willing to pay. As with service history, used car dealerships should have full accident reports for all of their vehicles.
Are There Any Components That Don’t Work As
They Should?
This is a great question to ask from the start. You don’t want to drive away with your new purchase only to realize something isn’t quite right with your vehicle. For example, maybe some of the buttons on the dashboard don’t work or the seat adjustment lever is broken. While small issues like this may not deter you from purchasing the vehicle, you’ll still want to know about them before you do. You may also be able to ask the owner to repair the issue before selling you the vehicle, thereby saving yourself some trouble.
How Did You Arrive at the Selling Price?
When buying a car, you want to ensure that you’re paying a fair price. A good way to do this is to learn how the seller arrived at their price. If they are able to show you the math they used to arrive at the number, you can better determine if that number is reasonable.
For example, a used car dealership may show you the Kelly Blue Book value of the vehicle and how they used it to determine their selling price. While any good car dealership will use a vehicle’s actual value, along with their own fees and profit margin, to determine a price, learning the math behind it can help you feel more at ease that you’re not being misled into paying more.
Can I Have the Car Inspected by My Own Mechanic?
Many car buyers do not have extensive knowledge of how vehicles operate. Therefore, when they go to look at a new car, they can’t really tell if it’s in good condition or not. To help them feel more comfortable that everything under the hood is in working condition, they want an expert of their own to inspect the vehicle. If this sounds like you, ask the car owner if you can have your own mechanic inspect the vehicle. Many private owners and dealerships are happy to work something out so that you feel better about your purchase.
Is the Vehicle Currently Covered by Any Warranties?
If the used vehicle was made within the past few years or has relatively low miles on it, it may still be covered by some warranties. For example, some warranties cover transmission issues for 10 years or 10,000 miles. By learning, if there are any current warranties in place on the vehicle, you’ll know if you have any extra protection. Warranties are more common on certified pre-owned vehicles, but you may find them on other used vehicles as well.
Get Your Next Used Vehicle from Rydell Outlet Center
It’s important to ask plenty of questions whenever you’re shopping for a used vehicle. Just as important, though, is to shop from someone who can answer your questions thoroughly. To get answers to all of the above questions during your next quest for a used vehicle, come to Rydell Outlet Center. We have a wide selection of used vehicles available, with new ones coming in all the time. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you find the perfect vehicle for your needs. To get started, please contact us today or stop by our dealership at any time.
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