Purchasing a Used Vehicle?

Are you purchasing a used vehicle but might be a little nervous about the vehicle and its history? Rightfully so! Here are some helpful tips to consider when purchasing a used vehicle!! 

Pre-purchase Vehicle inspections… ✅

Yes, that’s right. They are a thing and most automotive shops can perform them. We always recommend a pre-purchase vehicle inspection before purchasing a new/used vehicle because we’ve seen the outcome of when one is not done. A Pre-purchase vehicle inspection entails a very thorough walk through on the vehicle to determine what may need to be done soon, what may need to be done asap and what might already be done on the vehicle. That way you know if the vehicle is worth it, if it’ll last or if you may need to put money towards it after purchasing. Even if you are purchasing a vehicle through a private seller and not a dealership, make sure to ask the private seller first before purchasing if both parties can work out an arrangement for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection to be done. Most of the time the other party is more than willing to meet the buying party at their preferred automotive shop for the pre-purchase vehicle inspection. Sometimes the selling party isn’t even aware of the issues going on with the vehicle or what may need to be done for it. Vehicle’s are investments and to save you from making the wrong investment, we highly recommend that pre-purchase vehicle inspection! 

Research…

Do your research. There are vehicles out there that were just designed so poorly that even a pre-purchase vehicle inspection couldn’t save you from the financial nightmare of costly repairs. The most common thing people look up when looking at vehicles is what the most common issues are with that specific vehicle, if there are any of course. Give yourself peace of mind, don’t just purchase a vehicle because it looks nice. Research safety ratings, crash ratings, you could even research just an overall rating of the vehicle. Another thing to look up when making your decision could be the average maintenance cost of that vehicle. Knowing the average maintenance cost can prepare you for the future life span of that vehicle or may even make up your mind as to if the vehicle is worth it. Here is a list of car manufacturers  and the estimated cost to maintain them over 10 years… 

Source: https://www.crsautomotive.com/what-are-the-total-costs-of-vehicle-ownership-per-brand/

Obviously this being an estimate and no specific make and models listed. 

Vehicle History..

  When purchasing a new-to-you vehicle, it is always nice knowing the vehicle's history. There are many sources for that now these days, one being carfax. Now if nothing is recorded on the carfax, make sure to ask the previous owner or the Selling dealership if they have a record of all previous maintenance done to the vehicle and accident history. This will help you stay on the same track with maintenance but most importantly will also help you make the decision to purchase the vehicle or not. Ask about the tires, check the tire depth, that’s a big expense if you have to get 4 new tires right away. If the vehicle is higher mileage, ask about the timing chain(s), make sure that’s been done if it was needing to be done. Knowing the vehicle's history is so crucial if you plan on purchasing a vehicle that needs to last you years on end! 

Summary: 

Purchasing a vehicle is scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Take advantage of every source out there to ensure you get the right vehicle for yourself!