5 Things that are Important to Know about Buying a Pre-owned Car

When you are thinking about purchasing a pre-owned car, there are many factors that you have to consider. Remember that you may not know who the previous owner was and of course, you don’t know how they treated the car. Regardless of if you buy it directly from the previous owner or from a dealership, you will want to consider the following points. This is an important decision, so don’t forget any of these!

1. Review the history of the car: The first thing you should do is check that all the documents are in order. This includes the title, plate, and insurance at a minimum. It is very important for you to confirm that you are getting a street legal vehicle, as you don’t want to be involved in any legal situations. Purchasing a car outside of a dealership is often less expensive but these type of issues can arise. If you have any doubt you can visit a car dealership and learn more about this. Better yet, you can buy there your car and forget about any issue with the documents.

2. Make sure it has a good maintenance record: Carefully look at the maintenance records of the car. They are just as important as the legal documents. It can be a breaking point when deciding to buy the car or not, as they will tell you a lot about the shape of the vehicle you are buying. Make sure it has had repairs, if damaged and that the services were done in reliable shops with certified mechanics. Check how many big repairs have been done to it. The less is the better. You should even check simple things like oil changes and fluid refills. Taking the car to your own mechanic before you purchase it is also advised.

3. Make an exhaustive inspection of the suspension: This can be one of the most expensive repairs depending on how damaged these parts are. Have the car lifted and let a reliable mechanic inspect the suspension parts. If there are damages, have them fixed right away and take that amount off the price. This is not only a matter of comfort, it is a matter of safety for you and your beloved ones.

4. Take a look at the engine oil: Most people take their cars in for service before selling them. Don’t get played by this practice. If you are really interested in buying the vehicle that you are seeing, you should check the oil. Start the car and have it running until it gets to regular temperature, then turn it off and check the color of the oil and look for metallic sediments. If you find them, this is not a good sign. Some people even smell it, as oil can adopt the burned steel smell which is also not a good sign.

5. Drive it and listen for weird noises: Here you may need the help of an expert if you don’t know much about cars. The best test for the condition of a car is the driving test. Here you will really feel what is wrong with the vehicle. Listen for weird noises from the engine, suspension, interiors and anything else that could tell you that the car is not in good shape. Detecting these defects can save you from purchasing a car that will be in the shop the next day!