10 tips before buying a used car

Buying a used car can sometimes give us headaches and, although it happens rarely, a very low return with a considerable loss of money. That is why, before making an investment of this kind, we should keep in mind these 10 tips that experts give when buying a used car.

1.- Be clear about what we want

There is a wide variety of models and brands on the market, so you need to be sure you are buying what you want: what we need, what we are going to use it for, why we want a used one, whether it is worthwhile… This is very important, because after the purchase there may be regrets.

2.- Choose a trustworthy place

On the street we can find very attractive car offers but, although they will be cheaper, usually they offer us no guarantees once the sale is made. There are dealerships that specialise in buying and selling and which also give us 6-month or 1-year guarantees after the purchase, which ends up being cheaper than any other offer seen on the street. If even so, we like one seen on the street, the best thing is to get the opinion of a mechanic chosen by the buyer, so that he can take a look and warn of a possible problem. Remember that the law protects buyers when they purchase a used car.

3.- Test drive the car

Not only should we sit behind the wheel, but also the seller himself, to find out how it has been driven, whether it jerks, whether it is revved too high…

4.- Check the condition of the paint and bodywork

Although it may have been given a facelift before being put up for sale, the condition of the paint in hard-to-reach places and the bodywork can reveal what kind of car it really is.

5.- Mileage

Although in countries like Germany it is pursued and penalised to tamper with the mileage, it is true that in Spain it is still done. For this reason, the best thing is to look at the small details covered in the next point.

6.- Interior condition

Seeing whether it has been well looked after or not can reveal many details. Furthermore, it is not only the condition of the seats or the dashboard that matters, but the condition of the door rubbers, the upholstery or excessive shine on the upper part of the steering wheel can indicate that you are looking at a car with more than 100,000 km. In any case, the service book with the servicing carried out at the right time is a safeguard to bear in mind.

7.- Check the vehicle’s encumbrances

Finally, if it is of interest, it is very important to know the administrative status of the vehicle at the time of purchase. You should never buy a vehicle with outstanding debts or fines, because otherwise we will have to pay them out of our own pocket.

8.- Papers in order

Documentation in order will give us confidence when buying the car. You must thoroughly check whether the car has passed its MOT (if over 4 years old), check the chassis number, the registration plate, the registration tax, as well as other necessary papers.

9.- Having completed the change of ownership transfer

More than advice for the buyer, this is aimed at the seller. When we sell the car, make sure you have received the transfer of ownership of the car, since otherwise our driving licence could be suspended for an offence committed by the buyer of the car.

10.- Common sense and no rush

Above all, when investing money, you should use common sense very well and look into other cars of the same type, since haste is not a good adviser, and we may be turning down a much better offer at a lower price.