Buying A Second Hand Car? 19 Tips To Avoid Getting Your Hands Burnt

• Do your homework. Read up about the model of auto you’re thinking about. Will it perform like you want? Be conscious of any identified mechanical troubles with that particular model and bear in mind to check them out when you take it for a test drive.

• Look up the present second hand values for the automobile.  Get some of the second hand automobile magazines and your local paper. Check out the costs being asked for comparable cars.

• Vehicle Insurance is always a key expense. How a lot will that vehicle cost you to insure? It is effortless to find out on the Net – get a couple of quotes. It’ll just take you ten minutes.

• Also check out the car’s other running costs. We’re talking about fuel consumption, servicing and repair bills. Make sure you can afford to run the auto!

• When you see the car insist on seeing its registration documents and if the auto is much more than 3 years old, its MOT certificate. The registration documents will also show the cars’ VIN number. Carefully check that the documents tally.

• Constantly make certain that the person selling the car does really own it.

• And always see the car at the seller’s own home or organization premises. Then ensure that the address on the Registration Document is at the identical as the address – if not ask why. You should be suspicious.

• Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid? Does the vehicle registration number on the disc match the Registration Document and the number on its number plate?

• Ask to view the cars’ Servicing Record. Generally, this will also show the cars’ VIN number and details of the initial owner. If the Service record is not obtainable, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills? Ask to see them.

• Now look under the bonnet and look for the VIN Number (it could also be on a plate on the inside edge of 1 of the front doors). Compare the VIN number with the number on the Registration Document and check that the number stamped on the vehicle has not been interfered with. This will help to guarantee that the auto hasn’t had its identity changed.

• It is very best to take a friend with you who knows’ about cars – not only to look at the automobile but also to be a witness for what is said and anything that is agreed.

• Don’t pay for a car on your first pay a visit to and try not to be pushed into putting down a deposit. You need to carry out some checks just before you component with any funds.

• Ask the owner whether or not the auto is subject to any outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. Then, when you get house, get on the World wide web and check out the details supplied with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC’ web website. Click on “Car Buying” and then “Vehicle Status Checks”. The Status Check will cost you £24.99 but it will confirm whether or not the vehicle has outstanding finance. Best to be safe – without having this Check you could discover out that a finance organization in fact has a prior title to the car.

• Carefully examine the car in very good daylight. Look carefully for signs of repairs and accident harm. If you have followed our advice and obtained a Vehicle Status Check, that Check will also notify you if the automobile has previously been “written off”.

• Attempt to guarantee that the automobile hasn’t been “clocked”. (Clocked means that the mileometer has been wound back to show a lower mileage.) The average annual mileage is around 12,000. Be wary if the wear and tear on the car looks higher than you would expect from the mileage. The wear on the driver’s pedals is generally a give away. Then ask when the tyres had been last replaced. Does the wear on the tyres look about proper?

• Insist on test-driving the automobile for at least 10/15 miles. You need to get the vehicle totally warmed up and drive it in varying conditions. Incidentally, don’t forget to make sure you are insured to drive it! Do not assume that your own insurance policy will cover you for driving someone else’s vehicle. Check your policy just before you leave residence. If the seller claims that his insurance covers you, ask to see his policy – a bit of a discomfort but better safe than sorry!

• Has the car ticked all the boxes so far? Then invest some more income get it professionally inspected.

• Never pay any income until you have seen the outcomes of the RAC Vehicle Status Check. And even then, steer clear of paying any cash until the auto is handed over to you complete with its Documents and tax disc. Usually get a written receipt for any income you pay and guarantee that it includes the sellers name and address.

• Last of all, make certain you are insured from the moment you drive the auto away. The Police can now impound, and ultimately scrap, your auto if you’re driving it with out insurance or road tax! If the car has not got Road Tax disc, call in at the Post Office on the way house and get 1. You’ll require to show them a valid insurance cover note for the automobile and the cars up to date MOT Certificate.

If you’ve followed all these actions you’ll have carried out just about every thing possible to guarantee the car is legally yours at the appropriate price, and you haven’t bought a scrapper!