How To Buy A Used Car

By Author: Iain Shimmy
Total Articles: 31
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We buy used cars to save some money, if we are not careful when checking out a particular car we may miss important facts like whether it has been involved in an accident and has gone for insurance claims, multiple ownerships and lots more that can cost us money rather than saving us money.

If you are purchasing your used car from a dealer they should be able to provide you with a reliable auto background report, but maybe you are looking to buy the car directly from the previous owner. This is also OK; it is just a bit more work to get a good report. Today there are many online websites that for a small fee with provide you with a good trustworthy report on any vehicle. All you need is the cars Vehicle Identification Number commonly referred to as the VIN number.

Ownerships can be verified from the Registration Certificate of the car. A professional autobody technician would be able to check over the car and tell you if the car has been in any accidents. You can also refer to the claims history of the car to identify the same, but keep in mind this will only let you know if a claim was filed; some smaller ...
... accidents may go unreported. You need not even look in to a car if you have not verified the papers that can tell you of the history of the car. Examine the floor of the car. The carpets will let you know if the car has ever been flooded. You should also check the emission inspection report to see if the car has always been within the limit. If you see that the levels have been slowly getting worse then some repairs may need to be done in the near future, and if the car needs a new catalytic converter that will be an expensive purchase.

Some people will try to trick you by claiming that the car has less miles then it really does. They do this by disconnecting the odometer when the car is new. This way they can drive the car fro years then claim it is almost new when they go to sell it in 5 years. When a car is taken in for repairs and inspection the mileage is recorded check these reports, if the mileage never changes or suddenly jumps then the mileage on the odometer is not accurate, and you do not want to buy this car.

It the engine of the car greasy and covered in oil then it means that there is an oil leak or that an oil leak has recently been repaired. And while you are looking under the hood you should check the hoses and the belts to see that they are new and now worn out. Verify if the AC and heater system is working properly. This may be difficult if you are outside in the middle of winter because you will not feel the cold air from the air conditioning, but if you hear the compressor turn on then generally this means the AC is ok.

For a car rust is like cancer so make sure to check for rust in the various parts of the car. Sometimes people will repaint a car to cover up rust. If you are buying a used car and the paint looks brand new then chances are it is new paint and it is covering up something. By looking at the paint for bubbles you can usually get an idea if the pain is hiding rust spots.

I understand that sometimes money is tight and everyone needs a car, but sometime s the cheaper car will be more expensive in the long run. It is usually worth it to spend a bit more money now to get a better car then to spend more latter to fix a bad car.

Iain Shimmy has a love for cars and Online Casinos. His favorite car is a Dodge Charger and Online Craps is how he likes to relax after work.