5 Tips to Avoid Buying a Problematic Car
Buying a car is one of the biggest or second biggest purchases the average person will make in their lifetime, with the cost of cars in mind and the risk involved with potentially purchasing a problematic car, getWorth has shared 5 tips to avoid that reality and make the best possible choice when buying your new set of wheels.
1 Choose wisely
Lean towards cars that have low mileage and which are relatively new. Older cars with higher wear tend to give more problems. Don’t just choose a car because you like the colour or the look of it. Be practical in your choice.
2 Research, research and research
You can never do enough homework when it comes to buying a car. Once you have chosen the car you want, compare it to others just like it. Look at the average pricing, the average mileage for that price and find the deal that suits your budget best. If it appears too good to be true, it probably is.
3 Who are you buying from?
This can make a big difference. If you are buying privately, you have no protection under the Consumer Protection Act and the sale is typically ‘voetstoots’, so you would need to be doubly careful. If the owner has only owned the car for a short period, be particularly alert. If you are buying from a business, do your homework as there are dodgy players out there. Pick a reputable retailer, and if you’re uncertain, search for reviews on Google, Facebook, etc and ask what their return policy is. getWorth, for example, offers a 7 day/700km money-back guarantee – a first in South Africa.
4 Do your checklist
To ensure the car is in good condition it needs to tick certain boxes.
- Does it have a full service history?
- Has it been in any accidents (that have been disclosed)?
- How many owners has it had? Try to stick to as few owners as possible.
- Was it previously purchased through a reputable company?
- Could it be a stolen car? If the owner (or their bank) doesn’t have the car’s papers, avoid it.
5 Finally, but most importantly, test-drive it
First things first, when you go to look at a car you are interested in, always try and take someone with you to provide an objective opinion. If they have any knowledge of cars, even better. But, before you even get in to the car, take a walk around. Look for any dents, chips, scrapes or paint irregularities – any mismatched paint is usually an indication that the car has undergone some poor quality bodywork. Check the tyres and make sure that, overall, it appears to be in good condition.
…and just like that, with these 5 tips in mind potential lemon-purchases of a problematic car can be avoided.