Thinking of buying a used car? Here are 5 tips that may help you

Acquiring a vehicle is a task that requires a long period of reflection, since we are going to commit to a considerable financial outlay not only for the purchase but also for its upkeep. However, many users turn to the used market to save several thousand euros compared with a new vehicle; but, as the saying goes, cheap can end up being expensive, and that is why today at Highmotor we have put together a guide with 5 tips to help you choose your new companion on the road more carefully.

This guide is designed to be applied to any type of segment, with the aim that each and every potential buyer can get hold of the most suitable unit. However, we must always proceed with caution, since the used market is also characterised by hiding various tricks designed to lead us to take home a car that is not running at full performance, as it may appear.

A budget that must be respected at all costs

One of the first steps we must be clear about before making a purchase, whether of a new or used vehicle, is how much money we can or are willing to spend on that acquisition. To do this, we must make our calculations meticulously so that we know for certain the exact amount we must pay out so that the purchase does not end up becoming a financial ruin.

To do this, we must bear in mind that the outlay we are going to make will not only be used to cover the price asked for the car, but also its care and maintenance. With this premise, we must set a budget capable of giving us enough financial security to cover the purchase of the vehicle and any problems that may arise over time.

We must also take into account taxes, change of ownership, insurance, basic maintenance and unexpected breakdowns. Once we have a clear idea of the figure that best suits our situation, we can move on to the second step and focus on finding our ideal companion.

Time to search!

Without a doubt, starting the search for our “new” car is exciting, but it is always necessary to keep a cool head and to be alert to what we come across. That is why we must investigate the used market thoroughly and not fixate on the first vehicle that seems like a good option, but weigh up several models, brands and segments before making the right decision.

To select the best units, we can take several factors into account that will help us rule out vehicles we are not interested in more quickly. The year, number of previous owners, mileage and, as we have already mentioned, price are some of the characteristics we should weigh most heavily when drawing up a list of options that is as short as possible.

Look for units close to your location

A decisive factor that can cause our budget to rise considerably is, without a doubt, the location of the unit we want to see and test. It is important to first consider vehicles that are nearby, since this will make it easier to take the unit to our trusted workshop for a pre-purchase inspection and will save us a considerable amount of money.

To focus on a particular area, we can use the search filters offered by the various used vehicle portals, which will allow us to move forward in a much more direct and faster way. At the same time, we can also bring along someone who can help us make the decision, a person who should know the model and its possible endemic faults.

If we are forced to travel outside our municipality or autonomous community, it is advisable to shortlist several units to test before setting out on the journey, with the aim of avoiding a wasted trip and returning home without a new companion for the garage.

Gather information about the model itself and avoid the exotic ones

As we told you some time ago, it is very common that, throughout the search for our ideal car, tempting options appear at a very competitive price. Normally, these vehicles are characterised by offering a sporty version based on a standard model which, having been mercilessly battered by depreciation, will tempt us with the low outlay we will have to make in exchange for significant performance.

However, we must be very careful with this type of vehicle, since its maintenance will be equivalent to that of a new car that could exceed 100,000 euros. With this premise, we should try to avoid them at all costs, unless we have a financial situation solvent enough to cover the costs of that model or the necessary knowledge to carry out numerous repairs ourselves.

If our case does not fall into either of these situations and we are simply looking for a cheaper vehicle, it is better to focus solely and exclusively on those simpler models that are easier to maintain and to live with day to day. That is why we should look for well-known vehicles, for which there is a wealth of information not only about their maintenance but also about possible problems and which are easy to repair. Another important advantage of more common cars is the ability to find spare parts more easily, which would considerably reduce maintenance costs.

Enjoy it!

Congratulations, you have now found the perfect car; all that remains is to take it out on the road and enjoy with a smile every single kilometre you travel together. Remember: search thoroughly and take your time; respect your budget at all times, since exceeding it could lead to certain financial risks; look for units close to you, as this will help keep costs from spiralling and will make the purchase and any mechanical inspection easier to manage; avoid sporty and cheap vehicles if acquiring one of them is not part of your plans; don’t be afraid of mileage, but make sure the figure is genuine, something you can do by requesting a report from the Traffic authority (DGT).

These 5 tips will guide you through the task of buying a used car, although afterwards there will be several factors beyond our control that we will have to be able to anticipate. Without a doubt, the used market presents itself as a perfect opportunity for those who want to save money and still enjoy a car, something that is possible if we navigate this world with caution.