Buying a car is a big thing. Few of us can afford just to go out and buy one whenever we fancy it. It’s something that we save up and budget for, that we put a lot of thought into, and only tend to do when our old car starts to need that much repair work that buying a replacement begins to look more cost-effective. But, even when we’ve saved some money or explored financing options, and we’ve driven our current vehicle into the ground, we don’t just pop to the dealer and buy the first car that takes our fancy. First, we take the time to consider safety, environmental impact, and fuel efficiency. Size and storage, comfort, and the finer details like colour, make a model. When it comes to many of these considerations, it might seem better to buy a new car. You might think that a new car will be safer, that it will be more up to date and even that it will last for longer. But, new cars are much more expensive, and, as long as you are careful, buying second-hand can be a fantastic investment. Here are some of the things that you can do to make sure you get the right second-hand car.
Buy from the Right Place
You can probably get a great deal looking for a pre-owned car on social media selling sites, and other online community pages. But you won’t know anything about these cars. If you want to trust that you are getting a good deal, for a safe vehicle that will be worth the money, it’s worth going to a trusted dealer like Century Cars who will be able to give you plenty of information and assurance before money changes hands.
Look at Previous Owners
Two cars that have 50000 miles on the clock aren’t even. If one has had a careful, older driver that’s only driven short distances, and the other has had multiple owners, some new drivers and people taking on long commutes they are unlikely to be in the same condition. Learn as much as you can about the history of the car.
Look at the Age of the Car
Car standards change all of the time. A car that passed a safety test in 1990 wouldn’t pass the test of 2019. If you’ve got a family, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money making changes, it’s best to buy a second-hand car that is as new as you can afford. A newer second-hand vehicle is likely to be more reliable, the parts will be cheaper if it does need repair and tax and insurance may also be more affordable.
Commit to Looking After It
At the end of the day, whether you buy a new car, or second-hand, you want it to last for as long as possible, and you want to keep it in good condition. That means you need to look after it. Commit to yearly services, keeping it clean and getting it checkout out if there’s a problem. Then, make sure you drive sensibly and safely and keep it locked away overnight.