Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

Buying a new car is an important decision, which has to be well thought and well planned. People who can’t afford the swanky new cars, often prefer to buy a used car which is often more affordable than a new model. However buying a used car can only be profitable if the used car is in a sound condition - sound enough to invest an affordable amount and restore its condition. If you are planning to buy a used car, you should be prepared to invest a lot of time in inspecting the vehicle and ensure that the car is worth buying. Although there are owners who are very honest about the status of the car engine and other functioning information, there are some who would trick you into buying a car, which is in poor condition. Here are some questions that you should ask before buying a used car:

Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

Remember that while dealing with used cars, no owner will willingly disclose all the information about the car, unless asked for it. It is your responsibility to ask him/her the vital questions that will help you analyze the condition of the used car. Do not make your final decision until you are completely aware about all the positive and negative aspects of the car condition.

When did you buy this car and where did you buy it from?

It is better to ensure that the car has been bought from a reliable dealer or other reliable source. You should also check whether the owner possesses all the legal documents of the car ownership. After all you don’t want to end up buying a stolen car and end up in trouble. Also knowing when the car was purchased will help you to realize how old/new the model is and thus you decide whether you really want to by the car.

Why do you want to sell this car?

Most of the times (if not all cases), the owner takes a decision to sell the car because he is not satisfied with some aspect of the car. If there are any car problems that the owner mentions, it is easier for you to decide whether it is worth investing in the car repairs in order to restore its condition. Often at times the owner decides to sell a used car in good condition only because he/she wants to buy a new one. So whatever the answer you get, asking this question will help you to know what exactly is the condition of the car.

How would you describe the condition of the car?

The basic things that you want to look for are - the engine condition, the mileage, the overall condition of the car parts and the interior and external appearance. You can always get it painted or re-do the interiors, but are you willing to invest in a damaged leaking engine, or worn out breaks? While buying a used car, the vehicle's mileage is an important indicator of its value. Sometimes you might find that the odometer might be non-functional or shows erroneous reading, it is better to reject the car if this happens.

What investments have you made in the car in terms of servicing, insurance or additional accessories?

It is essential to find out, how often the car is serviced and how carefully the owner has maintained the car in terms of regular oiling and servicing. To confirm the information you can ask for service records as well. Additional investments in things like car interiors or accessories like air conditioning system, stereo or a GPS navigator. Make sure that the owner has maintained the vehicle well and is honest about the entire information about the car. Also ask if the car has been in an accident and if yes, what were the damages incurred.

Does the car come with a warranty?

Yes, even a used car can be sold with a certain minimum warranty from the owner. You don’t want to end up buying a car that goes kaput the very next day. Even a meager warranty of say two months or say a thousand miles will add some credibility to the deal. Although this is not a must, it certainly increases the credibility of the owner and reassures you about your investment.

After having asked these questions you can swiftly move on to the price negotiations. Always ask how much the owner is looking for and then try and negotiate the price based on how much you are willing to spend. Also before making the final decision it is always better to get the car condition evaluated from a person you trust. This will help you get an unbiased opinion about the car and help you decide whether you really want to buy it.