It is a dream to many if not all; to one day own a car. Buying a car is exciting, and at the same, it is a challenging experience. Buying a second-hand car is more difficult compared to buying a new car. You might be surprised that you could end up spending much when you intended to cut costs. This is due to little knowledge of the subject matter. Below are tips on what to ask the seller, and what to watch out for to know if you are getting a good deal or not.

Find out if a buyer can request the dealer to repair faulty parts. Since second cars are cars that have been used previously there is a high chance of them having faulty parts. Sometimes the buyer might not be aware. It could save you a lot if the seller does provide such services. Repairing a car is quite expensive. This also makes the seller accountable as they cannot dispose of their ruined cars by selling them off and gives you confidence as the buyer.

Since the car has been used for some time, it is subject to wear and tear. Inspect it to find out if the wear and tear can be touched up, or if it’s beyond repair and probably require replacement. Assess the interior, leather, paint, glass, mirrors, and every other detail. If it requires a touch up assess the level of intensity of it and calculate the cost.

Ask the seller if the car has ever been involved in an accident. If yes, then insist on a status check-up of the whole car. At times the exterior look may deceive you, as it might have been repaired to look as good as new. The STA can help with any kind of inspection, this will enable you to clear the doubts you might have after finding out about the accident.
Ask to be shown the chassis number/VIN. This number is unique and has 17 characters. It is very useful when you want to find out information about the history of the car. All cars built after 1981 have it. Mostly it’s found on the dashboard, driver’s side door, and on the log card.

Find out if the dealer gives a warranty and for how long. Some of these second-hand cars have underlying giant issues which might not manifest at the time of buying, then later on they show up and cost you a fortune to fix.

Buying a second-hand car can be risky because you can not tell its functionality by just looking at it. Therefore, it’s good to take all precautions and ensure the car is properly checked before you purchase it. Several tests can be carried out namely STA, vicom, and AA. You could outsource for the services and if you are lucky enough some dealers have their workshops, saving you the hustle.

If you don’t have enough money at the moment, you should not give up on your dream of owning a car, because some car dealers have terms of payment. You could get it on higher purchase. Another way to navigate this is by involving the bank to give you a loan.
I hope you find this useful also I would love to encourage you to do more research. Buying a car is a big decision that requires a lot of research and responsibility.