The second hand car trade seems to generate more tales of woe and anger than many other businesses. One of the main reasons is that car buyers often don\u2019t follow a few basic guidelines when buying their new vehicle. If you see an advert for a Porsche at a price that\u2019s more suitable for a Mini, shouldn\u2019t you be asking yourself why?<\/p>\n
One of the priorities that you should always bear in mind when buying a car is that you want the vehicle to take you from A to B for a number of years, therefore\u00a0it should be roadworthy. You also might need to use your car as security if you ever have to take out finance. Car loans<\/a> are available in a range of ways, including logbook loans. Most of the borrowing conditions of these specify that your vehicle should be under 10 years old, and in good working order, so that you can qualify to borrow up to 75% of the value of your car. A run down motor that looks as if it won\u2019t even get you safely down to the end of your road can\u2019t be used as security to raise a loan.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ve spotted a tempting advert online or in a local newspaper always be aware of the old adage, \u2018if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.\u2019 No one is going to sell you a high value object at a knockdown price. The website Go Compare<\/a> suggests that private car sales are attractive because neither the buyer nor seller will have to pay a dealership premium. The website also advises that even before you go and visit the buyer, you should phone and ask for a few essential details.<\/p>\n There are numerous smartphone apps into which you can type in the car\u2019s essential details. You can also check out the car\u2019s registration number, and MOT number, with the DVLA or the tax office. These checks will show you whether the advertiser actually owns the vehicle, and whether it has previously been written off as a result of an accident. If the car doesn\u2019t pass any of these basic checks, don\u2019t waste your time by visiting the advertiser.<\/p>\n If you do want to view the car, you should always look for the vehicle identification number (VIN) and verify that it is intact and that no one has tried to erase this vital ID. Make sure that the VIN is the same on the car\u2019s registration document. If the seller can\u2019t produce the registration or MOT documents, then make your excuses and leave.<\/p>\n The AA<\/a> suggests that you should also ask to see a copy of the V5C registration document to discover who the legal car keeper is. If the seller is selling the vehicle on behalf of someone else, then ask why. The keeper may be overseas, which is justifiable, but this is an important question to ask.<\/p>\n If you carry out these essential documentation checks before you test drive the vehicle, then you\u2019ll be aware of the car\u2019s history and whether the sale is genuine.<\/p>\n You can also use a car’s safety rating to determine whether it will be suitable for your requirements. This article<\/a> explains the safety rating systems you might have come across before such as EuroNCAP.<\/p>\nRead the advert carefully<\/h2>\n
Checking facts<\/h2>\n
Viewing the car<\/h2>\n
Safety ratings<\/h2>\n
Type of gearbox<\/h2>\n