Buying a used car is not very complicated, but errors and unpleasant surprises cannot be ruled out. Before placing your order with the used car seller , some preparatory steps are required to make a good car purchase.
1. Give yourself time to get a good deal Buying a vehicle takes time.
Whether the vehicle is new or used, it represents a significant financial investment and is a long-term one. To make a successful purchase of a used vehicle, you need time.
The time needed not to pick the wrong vehicle, find a vehicle that fits your budget and take the time to think things through before making any hasty decisions.
2. Define your automotive needs as precisely as possible
Needless to say, the more specific your vehicle search, the more likely you are to find the used vehicle that’s right for you.
Especially since in recent years the range of vehicles has been particularly expanded with new bodywork, new engines, new technological equipment, etc.
How do you use the car? going to work daily, going to a train station daily to take public transport, taking the children to school and extracurricular activities daily, shopping daily or once a week, going out in the evening from time to time, leaving every weekend -ends to the countryside, going on holiday twice a year, etc.
Do you have any particular constraints? purchase budget, fuel budget, insurance budget, rapid availability, etc.
How long do you plan to keep your vehicle? between having the latest automotive technologies and driving several hundred thousand kilometers until serious mechanical failure, there is a world.
Are you looking for a powerful car or just a car suitable for family driving? 60 hp, 80 hp, 100 hp, 120 hp, 140 hp, 160 hp, 180 hp, 200 hp and more.
Do you have a brand preference? the choice of brand may be linked to the presence of a brand distributor nearby, to past driving experience, to the desire to drive in a specific brand, to financial constraints, or to more subjective considerations .
Fuel: Gasoline, Mild Hybrid Gasoline, Gasoline Hybrid, Plug-in Gasoline Hybrid, Diesel, Mild Diesel Hybrid, Diesel Hybrid, Plug-in Diesel Hybrid, Superethanol, Mild Hybrid Superethanol, Superethanol Hybrid, Plug-in Superethanol Hybrid, Electric, Hydrogen, CNG, LPG Year
3. Define as precisely as possible your budget for the purchase of a car
There are many ways to finance the purchase or use of a car. But the use of a financing solution for the purchase of a car (credit) or the use of a car (rental with option to purchase, long-term rental) must be carefully considered.
As for the formulas for financing the use of a car (rental with option to purchase or long-term rental), they imply regular replacement of the vehicle used.
4. Define as precisely as possible your monthly payment for car financing
If your budget for the purchase of a car is too low, you need to define the level of the monthly payment that you can repay every month.
5. Define the price of the used car sought after on the second-hand market
A used car loses value every year. To put it simply, the discount averages around 25% the first year, 15% the second year and 10% the third year. Then, the pace of the discount weakened. After 10 years, the rating of a used car is low.
If you’re looking for an economical three-year-old city car with less than 50,000 kilometres, you’ll find one around 10,000 euros.
If you don’t want to put more than 5,000 euros in it, the city car will be closer to 100,000 kilometers and 6 to 8 years old.
6. Stop on specific criteria before starting your search
You need to define the brand, the model, the fuel, the engine power, the finish, the year, the mileage, the equipment requested, the color (if it is important only) and the price. The decision to go for a first-hand vehicle or not is up to you. And if the supply is abundant, you will have to narrow your search and put a location criterion.
7. Check the history of the vehicle
The expenses of repairs necessary for the restoration can make you lose part of the profit realized during the purchase of the second-hand vehicle.
A serious check of the used vehicle’s history will not protect you from a possible unforeseeable breakdown, but it will protect you from a purchase presenting a risk due to a troubled history. (maintenance not carried out, accident, etc.)
8. Check the condition of the vehicle
You must carefully check the condition of the vehicle and its operation. Keep in mind that a technical inspection is compulsory every two years and that if you missed any technical anomalies during the purchase, the compulsory technical inspection will bring them to light.
