Top five things to look out for when buying second hand cars - Buying a good or a dud second-hand car can mean the difference between saving and spending hundreds of Pounds.
top tips on how to get the most out of buying a second-hand car:
Buy a second-hand car which is less than five years old - One of the most inconvenient areas of buying second-hand cars is in the "soft", non-mechanical areas - such as door handles, stereos, windows and coverings.
Buy a car with a full service history - A car with a full service history usually means that the owner is the kind of person who takes care of their things. It will be easier for you to resell the car if it comes with a service handbook.
Buy from someone you know - It is usually better to buy a car that was driven by an older person (i.e. over 30). Buying from someone you know can also mean that you may have some opportunity for recourse if things go horribly wrong with the vehicle.
Get the vehicle checked for roadworthiness - Forewarned is forearmed: Use a reputable testing agency such as the Automobile Association to have the car thoroughly checked for mechanics. It can tell you whether or not it would pass the requisite roadworthy licensing test.
Look for the details - Check the pedals for wear and tear - smoother means more kilometres on the clock. (12,000 miles per year is a good average.) Look for cigarette burns and rips in the cloth. Finally, check that the spare tyre and jack are present.
top tips on how to get the most out of buying a second-hand car:
Buy a second-hand car which is less than five years old - One of the most inconvenient areas of buying second-hand cars is in the "soft", non-mechanical areas - such as door handles, stereos, windows and coverings.
Buy a car with a full service history - A car with a full service history usually means that the owner is the kind of person who takes care of their things. It will be easier for you to resell the car if it comes with a service handbook.
Buy from someone you know - It is usually better to buy a car that was driven by an older person (i.e. over 30). Buying from someone you know can also mean that you may have some opportunity for recourse if things go horribly wrong with the vehicle.
Get the vehicle checked for roadworthiness - Forewarned is forearmed: Use a reputable testing agency such as the Automobile Association to have the car thoroughly checked for mechanics. It can tell you whether or not it would pass the requisite roadworthy licensing test.
Look for the details - Check the pedals for wear and tear - smoother means more kilometres on the clock. (12,000 miles per year is a good average.) Look for cigarette burns and rips in the cloth. Finally, check that the spare tyre and jack are present.
