A Used Car Buyer’s Guide To Ten Things To Consider

Are you planning to buy a car? Do you have a limited budget? Well, if the answer is “YES’. Nothing to worry about as in Perth, the second hand car market is huge. You can find used cars for sale in Perth, WA of different makes and brands. Also, these used cars come at a good price tag and moreover, you did not have to pay a huge amount of a brand new vehicle. But before buying, you need to follow some important points which are described in this used car buyer guide.

When you plan to buy a second hand car, you do not have to worry about quality. When searched properly, you can find used cars that are just a few years old. There are many reasons why people sell their cars such as changes in location, try to upgrade their cars or even for financial needs. Even reputed used car dealers in Perth do a thorough check of used cars before putting them on display in the showroom.

When looking for used cars for sale you need to find out the top used car dealers in Perth and half of your work is done. But, at the same time, there are many things to know before buying a used car. To help you make a good decision, it is better to follow a used car buyer guide.

The used car checklist mentioned below will help you to buy a second hand car with peace of mind.

Here Are The Top 10 Points In A Used Car Buyer Guide

1. Vehicle History

In the used car checklist, the first thing that you need to keep in mind is to check the vehicle history of the second hand car that you planning to purchase. With the help of the VIN (vehicle identification number), you can get to know a lot of things about the car’s history.

In a vehicle history report, you can get information related to ownership as how many people owned a particular car and was this car involved in an accident. You can also know about mileage, maintenance history and any kind of structural damage to name a few.

Once you have this important information from the vehicle history report, it will help in finalizing your decision on whether to buy or not and how much to pay for it. Also, by having the vehicle history report, you will not get deceived into buying a car that is not worth the money.

2. Pre-Purchase Exterior Inspection

Any used car buyer guide will look incomplete if due importance is not given to a thorough pre-purchase exterior inspection. Many reputed used car dealers in Perth get the second-hand cars pre-inspected before putting them on sale. However, it is always better to inspect the car yourself.

Take a walk around the car and look closely for any rusty spots or paint chips. Small rust or paint chips can be easily fixed, but when it comes to heavily rusted parts, reconsider the purchase.

Along with the exterior paint, you need to look for problems with the frame by checking the bumpers, inside of the trunk and hood. Also, do not forget to check the condition of the tyres.

3. Check under the Hood

Once you are satisfied with the exterior part, you need to check under the hood. No matter how the exterior and interior look good, it is the engine that needs to be in good condition. The engine is the most important part of any vehicle and without checking the engine it will be a big mistake to invest in a second hand car. It is an important part of the used car checklist.

Open the hood and inspect the engine yourself for any kind of unusual smell from the engine fluid leaks, corrosion and cracked hoses and belts. Check the oil and transmission dipsticks for discolouration. It is a good sign if the oil is light brown in colour and the transmission fluid is pink or red colour.

When checking the engine, make sure there is no delay in starting the engine as it is a common problem in used cars.

4. Find out the Mileage

The average mileage that a car gives is about 20,000 km each year. In fact, one of the most important things to know before buying a used car is to find out whether it is giving high or low mileage.

Even if you find good used cars for sale Perth WA at a cheap price but the mileage is high then it is always a good choice to avoid buying i. High mileage means the expense of fuel will be more. As the fuel price is increasing day by day, you will end up spending more.

Always remember the higher the odometer reading, the less valuable will be the deal. Hence, buyers looking for used cars for sale in Perth must give stress on a car that offers good fuel efficiency. Search properly and wait for the right deal.

5. Examine the Electronics and Gadgets

Nowadays cars are well equipped with various types of electronics and gadgets. One of the things to know before buying a used car is whether these electronics and gadgets are in good working condition on not.

Know about all the safety features present in the car as they play a key role in protecting your as well as other’s life. When buying a second hand car, it is also important to find out whether there is any scope for any addition to the list of safety features already present in the car.

When going for a test driver, learn about how you can use a safety feature at the time of an emergency. For instance, you need to be aware of where the airbags are located and how many are there.
Also, you need to check the music system, GPS and air conditioning are working properly or not.

Also Read:- Common Myths About Used Cars

6. Find the Comfort Level.

When you search for used cars for sale in Perth WA, comfort is one of the things that is always there on the used car checklist. No matter how good a car looks, you must find it comfortable too before buying it.

The car should have comfortable seats, which is the most basic and also very important feature to look for in a second hand car. You cannot enjoy a drive, especially a long ride only when the seats are comfortable. You must look for tears, stains and cracked leather on all the front and back seats.

Also, the car must have a height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, a keyless entry option and a good quality air conditioning system. You must also check the cargo area of the car and see whether the space is enough for your family or not.

7. Opt for Test Drive

A used car buyer guide will be incomplete if you ignore the importance of a test driver. Most of the reputed car dealers in Perth will be more than happy to allow you to go for a test drive before closing a deal.

The test drive is probably the most important part of buying a used car. It is only during a test drive that you can understand the features like how to use the safety equipment, power of acceleration, comfort, the noise of the car and smoothness of the car and most importantly whether you are comfortable while driving the car.

When going for a test driver, plan your route properly and try to drive on the highway and busy roads, If possible, try parallel parking too.

8. Try Mechanic Inspection

In case you do not have much knowledge about cars, you can take professional help. There are many mechanics who offer pre-purchase car inspection services. Use this service to get the second hand car examined and on the basis of the report make a final decision.

A mechanic can determine if the vehicle has any underlying issues that might create problems in the future. Especially any issue under the hood that you might not be aware of can be spotted by an experienced mechanic.

Well, you need to pay for this service but it could save you from a bad deal. Also, it will give you mental satisfaction that you are investing your money in a good second hand car.

9. Know About Car Ownership

There are many things to know before buying a used car. Knowing about car ownership is just one of them. When you plan to buy a used car, you need to do your research properly and find out about car ownership.

It is not necessary that the second hand car you are planning to buy has a single owner. Many times, people buy a second hand car and again sell it. It is important to know how many owners has the vehicle had in the past. If a car is sold more than once, it is better to avoid investing in such a car. More owners mean the car has to deal with more strain in terms of how it was taken care of and driving style.

It is also critical to ensure that the car is previously owned by a genuine person else you might have to face problems with the user. Always buy from reputed used car dealers in Perth.

10. Budget and Payment Options

You must have a fixed budget in your mind before you start looking for used cars for sale in Perth WA. Remember that every kind of shopping starts with a budget and buying a second hand car is an exception in this regard.

Calculate your savings and monthly income to know how much money you are willing to invest and can afford in buying a second hand car. Set a range instead of a fixed number and start your search within the range. Try to stick to a budget even if it is challenging to avoid financial problems in the future.

It is also important to figure out your financing options. If you are planning to take a loan get all your documents sorted. In most cases, you need to show your proof of residency, identity, and income. Prior preparation will speed up the purchasing process.

Final Thoughts

So, you have made up your mind to buy a second hand car in Perth. Try to make the process easy try to follow the used car buyer guide mentioned above. This used car checklist will ensure that you are getting a good deal. Always try to buy from reputed used car dealers in Perth to ensure a good car purchase.

Also Read:- Used Car Checklist: Things To Consider While Buying A Used Car