When shopping for a quality used vehicle there are a
number of basic but important questions that you
should always ask the seller. Asking these questions
will ensure you know what you are buying and can
help you avoid headaches later on
Questions to Ask the Seller
Make sure you ask the following important questions
before taking the vehicle for a test drive.
- Are you the owner or authorised seller of the
vehicle?
- How long have you had the vehicle for?
- Whose name is the vehicle registered under?
- What is the reason that you selling the vehicle?
- What is the mileage on the vehicle?
- Are there any rust spots on the vehicle?
- Has the vehicle been involved any accidents or
collisions?
- Has there been any major repair work done on the
vehicle in its history?
- Do the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems
all work correctly?
- Is the vehicle available for a professional
inspection?
After you ask these questions, make sure that you
test drive the car. Test driving the vehicle helps
you to determine any immediate or obvious problems
with the vehicle and will help you evaluate the
condition of the car and the suitability of the
vehicle for you.
When you test drive the vehicle, make sure that
1. The vehicle doesn’t blow any smoke out of the
exhaust when it starts up
2. The Air-conditioning and heating systems blow
cold and hot air out
3. The engine doesn’t make any unusual noises
4. All the electrical accessories and features work
properly
5. The car doesn’t get pulled to one side when you
apply the brake
6. That the car doesn’t veer off sideways under
regular driving conditions
However, it is still important to remember that just
because the vehicle drives well in a test drive,
this DOESN’T mean that it hasn’t got any hidden
problems. Keep in mind that you will be accountable
for all the repair costs after you buy the car.
Negotiation Time
After the test drive, it’s time to Negotiate the
best deal! You can usually find a rough estimate of
the price of the used vehicle by
1. searching on various websites,
2. joining online discussion forums, or
3. asking a loan officer for pricing information
about the car
But, the estimated price from the above sources will
be based for a good condition vehicle with no
additional repairs required and no previous accident
damage. The price that you negotiate with the seller
should be adjusted for every existing problem with
the vehicle. Any problem items should be deducted as
a repair cost amount from the original vehicle price
estimate. And remember; only when you find out the
true condition of the car will you be able to know
if the negotiated price is a good deal or not.
Again, remember that you will be accountable for all
the repair costs after the purchase
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