What You Need To Know When Buying A Used Vehicle

Choosing a car, whether you’re buying your next or your very first, can be a difficult decision to make. There are so many factors at play in picking out the right vehicle for your needs, before even considering the financial implications of your eventual choice.

Indeed, in an economic climate that isn’t quite as kind to drivers as it once was, economy is key to viability. This goes some way to explaining why the used car market is currently enjoying a five-year high, as motorists in search of their next daily driver eschew the showrooms in favour of something altogether more accessible.

If you are in this exact position, you might have some valid concerns about choosing your next vehicle – and about how to guarantee that the vehicle you eventually buy won’t fall apart the moment it enters your ownership. Here, we’ll go through the basics of buying used, and help you feel a little more comfortable when browsing for your next car.

Set Your Budget

Perhaps obviously, your first consideration should be that of budget. How much do you have to hand, that you’re willing to put towards your next vehicle? It is key to remember that you don’t necessarily need to buy up-front or outright, with different payment options available. You could finance your chosen vehicle through a used car dealership, giving you monthly repayments as opposed to a major one-off outlay; this could make it possible for you to up your budget a little, based on future income.

However, there is a great deal of risk attached to such thinking, and you should only commit to a finance programme that you are absolutely sure you can afford. As such, you should have an in-depth understanding of your financial situation and the ongoing costs related to running your vehicle. Whichever way you lean regarding payment, it can be handy to know that used cars tend to depreciate less in value than their new counterparts, allowing you to recoup more money should you eventually sell.

Do Your Research

This is the part that might trip up most buyers who are less enthusiastic about cars and car design: the research stage. Used cars carry a higher risk of breakdown or failure, purely on account of having been on the road for longer; as such, you’ll want to pick makes and models of cars with a high-reliability factor, or that carry positive review scores from long-term owners and reviewers. For instance, used Vauxhall cars have a reputation for longevity, as do many Japanese-designed brands like Mitsubishi.

Know The History

While you might have picked a historicallyreliable make and model of vehicle in your used car hunt, there is no telling what has happened to specific vehicles you come across. To make an informed purchase, you need to know the full and exact history of the vehicle you’re buying, via its V5C logbook. If a seller cannot provide this, walk away! If they can, and the logbook reveals a rich history of repairs and maintenance, then the vehicle may be more trouble than it’s worth…

Image courtesy of Stellantis Media