We think that we won't ever be conned when buying a used car, but actually thousands of people are victims yearly. The majority of these people have bought their used car from one of the popular free ads papers and have known very little - if anything - about what to look for in a quality car. If you are among this category, here are 7 tips that can help you when buying used cars.
First of all, look out for signs that the car may have been involved in a serious accident. You should check for slight gaps between the body panels and poor fitting of car doors.
You must also give the gearbox and clutch a thorough check up. To do this, make sure that you have the engine running then press down on the clutch. If there are changes in the sound of the engine, it could mean that the bearings are worn.
The gearstick should move smoothly without any "crunching" sound.
To find out if the brakes are in good condition, try breaking as firmly as you can without causing the car to skid.
When you start up the car make sure the exhaust fumes are white - any other colour could indicate problems.
Check the panels to make sure there are no loose screws. If there are this could indicate that the odometer has been tampered with and the car has done more mileage than it states.
You must also check the car's paperwork to see if the history is correct. It's usually better if the car has more history. Or invest in a vehicle data check, a service which can instantly check your proposed new car's history, including whether it has ever been stolen or involved in an accident or whether it has any outstanding finance on it etc.
And what's great is that this service doesn't even cost that much and it can save you money in the future.
Discover how to manage your vehicle and avert surprise issues at www.carolinas.aaa.com.
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