Once neighbours or other relatives become aware of your decision to buy a second hand car , everyone is bound to come up with numerous tips and advice on how to avoid getting cheated during the deal. Traditionally, most buyers are afraid to purchase these vehicles due to fear of high maintenance. However, the quality of parts in second hand cars are now world class and if chosen sensibly, such a vehicle may be of greater utility than a new one.
Required awareness to buy a used car
a) Mileage & Brand – A vehicle that has run between 15,000 to 50,000 km is good enough to be purchased. For brands such as Honda and Toyota, it is possible to stretch the number of kms. a few thousand further.
b) Complete engine check – If the used car starts properly with the correct sound and without high vibration, it is good to be bought. You must undertake a test drive of the vehicle to understand the engine condition better. Engine oil getting heated up fast is definitely not a good sign. Apart from this, the air conditioning must be tested for effectiveness.
c) History – Get the vehicle certified by a mechanic, in case it has not already been done. Check for damages on the exterior and interior carefully, so that scratches are eliminated as far as possible. The rear should also be inspected for tell-tale signs of repair. Details of accidents, if any, must be known from the user prior to purchase.
d) Documentation check – A long list of documents needs to be checked before completing the sale of used car . These include PUC, Insurance, R.C. , RTO certificate and Registration. It is important to check for colour of the car mentioned on registration papers.
If you consider purchasing a second hand car, you can buy a sedan at about 70 % the cost of a new hatchback. With appropriate checks in place, isn’t that a good deal?