In 2018, The US Federal Highway Administration said The average light-duty driver has driven about 13,500 miles on their vehicle each year. In January of this year, Consulting firm IHS Markit said The average US vehicle is a record 12.1 years old. That puts the man in the middle in the 2010 model year run with 163,350 miles.
The world’s current troubles only exacerbate this, as people hold onto cars longer while waiting for prices to drop. That means there are a lot of high mileage cars out there.
And just like the 3 rules when buying real estate are location, location, location, the 3 rules when buying a used car are prepare, prepare, prepare.
Here are a few tips to help you bring home peaches instead of committing crimes.
Tip #1: Research
Whether you want a used car because it suits your budget, investment plan or style, booking a day in advance of internet research is the first thing to do after deciding on a car. create and model cars. Every car has a fan base somewhere, so you can find a good car buying guide and history to learn the value of the car, what to look for, what to avoid, cost to keep running, what needs fixing or upgrading immediately after purchase.
If the seller mentions a vehicle that has been serviced by a dealer, check the brand to see if you can get a service record – some premium brands do. Spend Benjamins on CarFax on a car you really care about, whether buying from a seller or a private buyer. If a private buyer has a receipt, great, but an objective third party is always a good choice for a used car.
Find out where the car has spent its time. Has it spent a decade in the harsh, salty winters of the Northeast? Does it live outside in the paint-and-rubber-destroying climate of the Southwest? Or has it been parked all its life, but does it “run when parked?”
Finally, if there is an ownership issue, especially with an out-of-state vehicle, check with your motor vehicle office and Insurance money company to make sure you understand what you’re getting into.
Tip #2: A Buyer’s Guide
NS Federal Trade Commission requires every agent to include the Buyer’s Guide in every car dealership on sale – it is usually glued to the window. Read it from top to bottom; The information and exclusions on the Guide supersede anything in the contract of sale. If the Guide says there is a guarantee, the dealer is obligated to honor the warranty regardless of anything in the sales contract.
Tip #3: Choose the right test drive location or route
Chances are you won’t meet the seller where the car spends most of its time parked. This means you won’t be able to check for easy marks like liquid stains underneath the engine. Our put together Recommended kit for evaluating a used carand meet in a place with enough light and shade to cover the car, or take a test drive to such a location.
As for actually conducting a test drive, Here’s a guide on how to do it.
Tip #4: Check the liquid
You want the lights on so it’s easy to check for problems with glass, paint, bodywork or rust and under the hood. It’s easier to check the condition of the belts and hoses – and the rubber on the pedals in the rider’s footrest – in good sunlight. Most importantly, you want to check every fluid and look for fluid leaks in the engine compartment. The sun will make sure every liquid – oil, coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, all – is colour it should be.
Tip #5: Check all electronic features
You want the shadow to test all the car’s electronic features like high beam and high beam, adaptive headlights. Check any interior lighting as well, making sure that all illuminated buttons are illuminated. Check out everything that starts with the word “electric,” especially every seat function and convenience features like cruise control, backup camera, blind-spot monitoring, and heated steering wheel.
If you’re looking at an EV or a dip into the mixture with an all-electric range, ask the seller for a guarantee the battery The package is fully charged before you view the car. Ask the seller if they have a recent battery pack review report from the dealer.
