Mistakes to Avoid when Buying a Used Car

This is a sponsored article provided by James Cummings. James is a business psychologist and serial entrepreneur, with over a decade working in finance, IT, marketing, and recruitment sectors. He has authored numerous books in the management space and is Founder and CEO of dailyposts.co.uk.

Buying a used car can be a wise investment when a replacement vehicle is needed. You will get the best bang for money with a used car. A used car, however, often has complications due to daily wear and tear, hence, it's important to avoid making costly mistakes when shopping for a used car. Some of the mistakes to look out for include:

Forgetting to Research

Be sure to research your used car of choice as soon as possible before you start searching in person. Verify that this vehicle has the safety and durability that you need. Visit websites that are committed to the choices you like.

You can also visit forums and online automotive groups; you will find users that will be happy to share their expertise and experience.

Going for the Cheapest Price

Everybody knows the cheapest deal is not always the right one and vice versa. In reality, many customers are fooled by low prices and sweet-talking salespeople and end up buying a lemon. Most used car dealers aren't kind enough to reveal the problems with some of the vehicles they sell. All they think about is how they can sell their vehicles at the earliest opportunity. Be wary of the price as a rule, if the car is too cheap it is likely the car was smuggled into the country and has missing documents or it is actually a stolen vehicle.

Skipping the Test Drive

The test drive is one of the most important aspects of the cycle of purchasing a vehicle. Most cars look fine on posters and on the lot, but the test drive is the best chance to see if a car meets standards and how well it "suits" you and your family.

Once you’ve bought it, you do not want any surprises. That's why it's shocking that a lot of people just do a nominal check on cars or, worse, none at all.

This is a sure formula for buyer’s remorse and should be avoided at all cost. It is important that you have enough time to execute a full test drive for at least 30 minutes and do a detailed walk-around on any car you find.

Shopping at Just One Dealership

It pays to browse around when it comes to buying a used car so that you can have access to a wide range of options. In fact, expect to try out at least three separate dealerships. You don't have to do it in person. These days, you can visit multiple online dealers, view the specifications and details of the car of your choice, request a quote, and do all the due diligence before visiting one in person.

Let the dealerships you are talking to know that you have your options open until you're ready to buy. That will help to ensure that you get a better price.

Buying Unnecessary Extras

Dealerships also seek to sell extras that increase their profit margin but are a waste of time for you. These can be rustproofing, seat covers, paint protection or VIN etching – where the vehicle identification number is engraved into the windows to discourage criminals.

When you see those things on the shopping bill and you don't agree with them, just take them out and don’t pay for them. The only extra you need for your new car is automobile insurance and this does not need to come from the dealer. However, you can always check out different providers and sites like AMI Car Insurance to explore insurance options.

Not Having the Car Checked by a Mechanic

Although several people test drive vehicles before buying, few used cars are checked out by mechanics before finalising the contract. Having the car looked over by a qualified technician is something you should not fail to do, even if you have to pay for the inspection yourself.

Not Running a Vehicle History Report

Aside from conducting a test drive and making a mechanic examine the car, running a vehicle history report is also relevant. It is easy to search for any past accidents, issues with the car and the number of prior owners.

Dealers typically pay for this third-party operation, but the buyer would most likely have to foot the bill if the sale is by a private vendor. Whether you're using CARFAX, AutoCheck or some other app, it's still important to check the history of the car before you buy.