Make sure you are prepared when buying a used car from a stranger’s driveway. We’ve found 10 of the best and most essential questions to ask a private seller when looking to buy a used car:
1. Ask for a description of the vehicle over the phone. Don’t describe the vehicle you are after, wait for them to describe it. In other words, don’t ring up and say “You have a Ford Mondeo for sale, can you describe its condition?” wait for the seller’s response. If the seller asks “which one?” straight away you should be on your guard. What you have here is a con artist who sells multiple vehicles while posing as a private seller. There’s no point rewarding criminal behaviour – our advice? End the call.
2. Ask the mileage of the car. Normally the average car will rack up about 12,000 miles per year – the distance manufacturers use to determine standard warranty coverage. As a guideline, a seven-year-old model should have between 40,000 -60,000 miles on the odometer. If it has travelled considerably more than this, than this is your ideal opportunity to negotiate with the seller to lower the price for high mileage.
3. Is the private seller the original owner? It is always a good idea to find out how many people have owned the car previously. If the car has been passed around from owner to owner it could be that the car is troublesome and is expensive to upkeep – bear this in mind. If the car has only had one owner this is your ideal opportunity to quiz the seller on any recent maintenance undertaken, oil-change intervals and any other maintenance habits. One-owner cars fetch a premium for this reason, so expect to pay slightly more. If the car has had a few owners, ask if the car has had previous owner’s history documents, this should allow you to see any maintenance or repairs to the vehicle. This moves us on to our next point.
4. Ask for all service and maintenance records. Every legitimate seller should have at least some repair receipts. Take note of expensive repairs involving engine or transmission. Beware of the seller who has no records. They may well be selling a vehicle purchased from someone else and they don’t want you to discover its chequered past.
5. Ask the seller if it would be okay for you to take the car for a test drive, even if you don’t want to test it (although we strongly recommend that you do). Anybody who can’t surrender the vehicle for a quick drive is probably hiding something (it may not be plated properly). And demand more than just a spin around the block. Drive the vehicle on a motorway as this will give you an inclination of the cars mechanical fitness and speed. Make sure if the seller drives with you that they do not put the radio on – to mask out any unusual noises or sounds. Anything that sounds like a suspension knocking or a whining transmission or something that just does not sound right – quiz the seller on the noise.
6. Ask if it would be alright for your mechanic to check it over, again, even if you aren’t planning on using a mechanic to check it first (although, again, we recommend that you do!). If the seller has anything to hide about costly repairs or maintenance they will become reluctant to cooperate, they might try and make it awkward for you to book an appointment – perhaps saying they are going on holiday or another excuse. To be fair, don’t spring this one until you are nearly certain that you’ve settled on this particular vehicle. It does take time to arrange a garage visit and the seller may not want to be without the car for a day. The best advice is to make arrangements ahead of time with your mechanic, especially if he or she is available on a weekend.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller why they are selling the vehicle. If the answer is they’ve ordered a new car, they are obviously trying to get a higher price than the low figure the new-car dealer offered. Do a price comparison of the vehicle you are enquiring about to ensure you are getting the best price possible for the vehicle, there is a website called http://www.priceanycar.com which will help you find cost comparisons. If they’re selling a family member’s car, i.e. “My elderly father can’t drive anymore” check the ownership slip against the history records of the car to verify this first. If they are lying about this what else could they be lying about?
8. Ask if the vehicle has been involved in any accidents since ownership. Of course the seller here could lie about any damages incurred on the vehicle, however a quick examination for paint overspray will reveal the lie. Inspect window and door seals, wheel wells and mufflers. Typically, the seller will under-report the collision damage. The best advice would be to get a trusted mechanic to check the vehicle over before committing to a purchase.
9. If there is no way that you are able to see the car in person, i.e. you are buying a car at auction online - ask for photographs of everything including the interior, exterior and under the bonnet. Be wary of any signs of rust or damage as this could lead to a pricey repair job. Also it would be an idea to pay by escrow just in case the car gets to you in thousands of little pieces, if at all. - We have heard the horror stories.
10 . And lastly, don’t forget to haggle. The seller will have a price in mind that they are willing to drop down to, especially if they know that the vehicle might need repairs soon or if they know that the mileage is particularly high in comparison to other vehicles of its age. Some people might take a lower offer just to guarantee a quick sale so they might be prepared to reduce the price to ensure a quick sale.
No comments:
Post a Comment