Buying a second hand car is way more than it’s cracked up to be. I’ve just purchased my second car, and I’ve only ever gone for second hand, not only because they’re more affordable – but you can get some amazing deals! The thing with cars is, is that you can buy one brand spanking new, and you can drive it home and it’s already lost about a grand off it because it isn’t classed as new anymore. Crazy isn’t it? Today I’m going to share some of the tips & tricks I’ve picked up from buying a car second hand and what you should keep in mind when you’re doing your car shopping!
Pick A Trustworthy Dealership
I can’t stress enough how important it is to go with a trustworthy dealership, there are so many horror stories out there of people buying secondhand cars through a private sale, or a dodgy garage and then taking the car home, only for it to fall to bits. Do your research, ask around, and go with a brand that’s super reliable. I was quite fortunate with my first car, because although it ended up quite expensive (due to me being a first time car owner, having no credit score, etc!) I had a family member working at the dealership I bought from. Therefore I was treated really well and I ended up getting a car that was almost like new with very little mileage on it. It’s so important that the person/brand you buy a car from is reliable, especially incase anything goes wrong. With my first car, there was a few teething problems a couple of weeks post-purchase and they were all sorted out so quickly – and I’ve had no issues since.
Go For A Car That Comes With A Warranty
If you purchase a used car from a well-known dealership, they usually come with a years warranty. I know mine did and with it not being brand new, it gives you that peace of mind, for the first year anyway. After that you can usually extend your warranty if you wish, but in my case it wasn’t necessary as I decided to trade it in for a better model. If you buy a car you plan on keeping for years and years to come, it is definitely worth getting that first years warranty and then extending it to avoid any ugly bills should something go wrong.
Check The Car Over – Twice!
Going for a second hand car, you should always make sure you give it a thorough check, more than once. Just look for things like dents, scratches, check everything is in working order… on the inside and the outside. Check the mileage on it and maybe even do a google search to see what it’s really worth and things like that. You shouldn’t have to worry too much if who you’re buying from is really reliable and it has a warranty, but it’s always best to give it a good once over yourself before you splash the cash.
Give It A Test Drive
It’s definitely worth giving a car a test drive before you buy it, whether it’s new or second hand. You want to make sure you really like it and that it’s nice to drive, as cars are costly however old they are! You can browse through Kap Motor’s collection of Prestige used and book a free test-drive today if you’re eager to get buying!
