Steal a deal – buying a second hand car

Keep your feet on the ground

We all have a dream car that we secretly long for. Maybe it’s a 1968 MG soft-top or a sexy two-door sportster. Dream cars are rarely practical and like most of us with families, a two-door sportster just won’t do the job. Think about what you really need to use the car for. Do you need to load it up with shopping? Are you planning to use it for driving holidays with the wife and two kids? If you have small children, do the buggy boot test. If it doesn’t fit, the car just isn’t suited to your needs. Will your new car increase your car insurance premiums?

Use your head and not your heart when making a decision and ask yourself the hard questions before you decide to buy.

Knowledge is power

Knowledge is power when you’re shopping for a second hand car. Take a test kit with you when you have a look at a potential motor. Use a mirror and torch to look for rust and damage under the chassis.

Take a magnet with you to test the bodywork. If the magnet doesn’t stick to the bodywork there may have been sub-standard repairs done to it with plastic filler. The magnet test is not foolproof as some cars are built with plastic panels. Do some research on the model and make of the car before you go see it. If you have a friend or relative that is a bit of a car buff, take them with you for extra support and valuable advice.

Brush up on your reading

Driving a car is the easy part. But do you know what goes on under the hood? Do you know how much a second hand car should cost? If not, fortunately there is a wide range of price guides out there to help you. Price guides will tell you exactly how much you should be paying based on the car’s model, age, mileage and colour. They also give you vital information about depreciation.

You need to factor in the cost of repairs to the car, motor insurance premiums and how much spare parts will set you back. Resale is something you should think about before you by as well. You might be one of only three people in the UK that love the tangerine orange ’72 Beetle but your silver Peugeot 206 will sell as soon as it hits the market.

When to car hunt

Looking for a car can be tiring so don’t go when you’re feeling under the weather. You could end up buying a car you don’t really want or paying more for the car because you don’t feel like haggling.

Pick a day when the weather is fine. It’s easier to spot faults in daylight.

Where to buy

Auctions are not for the fainthearted. Avoid them unless you know your way around a car.

You can pick up a great bargain in the small ads. The only downside is that you have little redress if something goes wrong with the car. Also, watch out for the same telephone number on a number of different ads. This could be a private trader masquerading as a private seller.

Buying from a franchised dealership is one of the safest options. They have a reputation to uphold so they are not likely to rip you off. However, if have a complaint with your car, you can speak to the manufacturer.

Last but not least, you can find a bargain on the Internet. Companies like www.jamjar.com are known for offering great discounts.

Check under the hood

Here are some easy checks you can do to test the quality of the car.

·         Check the tyres. Uneven wear could mean there’s a problem with the suspension.

·         Smoke from the exhaust is not a good sign.

·         Check the oil. Pull out the dipstick and if the oil is sludgy, it could mean the engine’s tired and/or has not been maintained properly.

·         Always take the car for a test drive. The only way to test the power steering is to drive the car.

·         Make sure all the electric windows and the stereo system work.

Dealing with the seller

Learn as much as you can about the car you want to buy and take that knowledge with you. You will earn the seller’s respect and put yourself in a stronger negotiating position.

Watch the seller’s body language when you are checking out the car. If you’re checking the tyre tread and the seller’s rattling on about boot space, he/she might be trying to hide something.

When negotiating, always start lower than the asking price. If that doesn’t go down too well with the seller then point out any faults and repairs that need doing to justify your offer. If you start low, you can slowly move up to the price you are willing to pay. If you start high, there’s no room for negotiation.

Buy with your eyes wide open

Rather err on the side of caution when you’re buying a second hand car. An estimated one in three second hand cars have a dodgy history. You don’t want to hand over your hard-earned cash to find out later that the car is stolen or there is finance still owing on it. If this is the case, you won’t get your money back. Get an expert to check the car’s history and a get full mechanical inspection done before you buy. If you’re not happy with the results, walk away from the deal.

Top 5 buying tips

·         If you are buying privately, always meet the seller at their home. Look out for signs that the seller is a trader. Loads of spare tyres and tools lying around are a dead giveaway.

·         Women are often better and braver at bargaining so if you can, let her do the haggling.

·         Always check the car’s history. You can do this at www.hpicheck.com.

·         Check that all the locks match. Thieves will change locks that they have had to break to steal a car. Then again, the seller may have a legitimate reason for replacing a lock. Check the car’s history and ask to see a receipt for the lock.

·         Look at the bigger financial picture. Think about the cost of maintaining the car, car insurance, and repairs.

Security checks

·         The VIN

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is unique to every car. It is stamped on the bodywork under the bonnet. It must match the number on the registration document. If you can’t find it under the bonnet or it doesn’t match, don’t buy the car.

·         Registration document

Never buy a car without a registration document no matter what the seller says. To check for forgeries, hold the document up to the light. If it’s authentic, it will have a watermark.

·         MOT

Ask to see the MOT. You won’t be able to get road tax without an MOT if the car is over three years old. Check that the car has been serviced regularly and ask to see proof.

·         History check

Always check the car’s history before you buy. If money changes hands and you only find out later that the car is stolen, you have little or no chance of getting your money back.

·         Car Insurance

You’ve done your homework, you’ve found the right car for you and now you’re ready to drive off into the sunset. There’s one last thing you need to take care off, motor insurance. Don’t leave anything to chance, get your motor insured as soon as possible.