Using Technology To Drive Your Next Used Car Purchase
Buying a used car can often be a troubling process. Without having a clear idea of the history of the car before you, it can be easy to find yourself making mistakes which will impact you very far down the line. Certain things, like very serious accidents, have to be declared by sellers. Of course, though, there could always be smaller issues, or even things which the old driver isn’t aware of, and they could all cost you money. To help you to get around this sort of issue, this post will be showing you how to use technology to make sure that your next used car purchase goes as smoothly as possible.
The Initial Research
Like a lot of large transactions, it makes sense that you do some research before you buy a used car. This isn’t as simple as looking for the best cars to buy, though, as there are a number of factors which go into figuring this out. To make this a little easier for you, you can find some examples of the key areas which you’ll need to look into below.
The Reliability: Thanks to the wealth of reviews, testimonials, and other resources around the web, it’s quite easy to get an idea of which car brands are the most reliable. Companies like Toyota, for example, have long been heralded as one of the best manufacturers on the market for cars which last a very long time. This is especially important when you’re looking at cars which are used.
The Value: Along with looking for information about the reliability of the cars you have on offer, it will also make sense to think about their value. Some cars are worth more than others for seemingly no reason, and this can often distort their worth, making it hard to figure out whether or not you’ll be getting a good deal. The Kelly Blue Book is a great resource for those who want to understand the value of a car.
The Costs: No one wants to buy a car which is going to cost them a small fortune to run, and repair costs can be a massive part of this. You can find car parts across the web, while also looking for first-hand accounts of repairs being made, and this information can give you a good idea of what it might cost you if the car you choose decides to explode. This is well worth it for those who are worried about the lifespan and repairability of their car.
General Information: While buying a car may seem like a fairly simple job, most people will struggle along the way. You can read a lot of tips on blogs and forums before buying a used car. This can better prepare you for the journey you’re going to be undertaking, while also ensuring that you don’t make any mistakes along the way.
Finding A Seller
There are two popular ways to buy a car; privately or through a dealership. Going private can often make the whole experience cheaper, but will increase the risks a little. Using a proper garage will give you a lot more assurances, while making the car cost more and making it harder to maximise the value. Whichever you choose, you’re going to need to find the seller.
Private: There are loads of ways to get your car through a private purchase, nowadays. Along with stumbling upon cars with signs in their windows, there is an array of websites which can point you in the right direction. eBay, Craigslist, and even local buying and selling sites can be useful for this, and they will all come with some degree of buyer protection, provided you follow the rules which they set out.
A Dealership: If you’d prefer to get your car from a professional seller, you will have to take a slightly different route. It will be worth starting by reading some reviews for the local dealers you have around you. Starting with the best rated, you can look through their stock to see if there is anything you want. If not, you can move on. Sites like Yelp are get for reviews, but you should avoid those which are displayed on the dealership’s homepages.
The Car’s Background
In an ideal world, you would get a full and honest run-down the a car’s history when you decide to buy it. Of course, though, most garages simply can’t do this, and it would be too much to expect them to. This doesn’t mean that you can’t take a look around for yourself, though. There are a number of things to check in this area, making it worth going through the list below in full.
Servicing/Testing: Most countries and states have mandatory car testing rules in place which are designed to ensure that vehicles are safe on the road. It’s crucial that the car you buy has a good history in this area, as this will show that it is nice and reliable. Most governments have sites which enable you to access this information for free. Of course, you could also think about getting in touch with them through a variety of technological means.
Is It Stolen? No one likes the idea of buying a stolen car, though it isn’t often because they are aware of the problems this can cause. Your car could be potential evidence in a court case, and you could even find yourself spending time behind bars until you can prove that you bought the car recently. There are loads of mobile apps on the market which can be used to figure out the legitimacy of a car purchase. Thankfully, most garages will already have done this before they buy a car in the first place.
Inspecting The Motor
You should never commit yourself to buying a secondhand car before you see it in the flesh. Photos can be deceiving, and people will often lie when they get the chance to make an easy sale. For those who don’t know much about cars, though, it will be worth spending some time to figure out the best way to inspect the one you have your eyes on.
OBD: For the last couple of decades, most of the world’s cars have been fitted with a universal diagnostics socket known as an OBD port. This is used by mechanics to get an idea of what might be wrong with a car, giving them codes which can be translated to faults within the car. These devices have gotten very cheap over the years, though, and this makes it easy to get your hands on one for yourself. You will need to learn how to use them properly, but this can give you a solid edge when you’re looking at a used car.
Video Guides: Each and every car in the world has faults and unreliable areas. Being so complex, it’s just about impossible to avoid issues like this, but you can still learn how to look for them. Before checking out a used car you like the look of, it is worth watching a video about its specific make and model. This can give you an idea of what to look for when you get under the hood, rather than leaving you to figure it out for yourself.
A Trusted Advisor: It’s not always possible to take someone highly knowledgeable with you when you want to buy a used car. If you’re able to use a messenger service to keep in contact with them, though, you can still use their brain when you’re inspecting a car. By sending smartphone photos to them, you can get their opinions surrounding the cars you’re looking at. This can give you the chance to show them things you’re not happy with, while also getting an idea of the general quality of the motor. A second pair of eyes will also be useful when you’re on this journey, even if they’re not much more knowledgeable than you.
Buying It Securely
Modern payment systems have made large purchases far more secure than they used to be. For example, if you buy a car with a credit card or through a digital payment, only to have the car break down after a week, you will be able to get your money back by launching an appeal. Using cash, though, you wouldn’t have any help at all. This makes it clear to see which route will be best, with digital payments making any purchase almost entirely risk-free. Of course, though, this doesn’t mean that you should use this as a main line of defense.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the time you put into using technology to help with your next car purchase. Not a lot of people use all of the options in this post, leaving themselves open to challenges which could otherwise be avoided. Of course, though, you may be able to find additional options which can help you even further.