You've decided to go for a used car.
But you still hesitate between several models, and above all, you don't know where and how to find possible faults?
Discover all our tips for making the right choice and buying smartly.
First of all, it is important to find out about the history of the car . This concerns both its age, its mileage, the number of owners who have had the car in hand, the maintenance of the car via the maintenance book and various invoices.
These elements allow you to make a first selection by eliminating all vehicles with suspicious information or history.
Also, one of your first steps should be to make sure you find the small iron plate with a series of numbers that allows you to identify the car and to certify to you that it has not been stolen. If it's missing, don't go any further, it's the beginning of bad surprises!
Second, check the exterior of the car . Pay attention to possible traces of rust, keys or scratches on the bodywork, without forgetting to pay particular attention to the condition of the tires .
The latter are a good indicator of the previous use of its driver.
If they are worn and the grooves are almost gone, it means that the car has been driven a lot, and potentially on paths or off the beaten path.
You can then discuss a discount or request a change at the expense of the current owner.
Third, check the interior of the car .
Make sure the numbers on the counter are lined up correctly (otherwise it may have been tampered with), that the covers and floor mats are not hiding anything suspicious. Try all the on-board controls, activate the air conditioning.
Finally, remember that the best way to check a used car rest of the test on road and highway .
This will give you a positive taste or not, and project you to know if you feel good on board. Remember to test the condition of the car's brakes, steering and handling.
And, for the more picky or if it's the first time you've turned to a used vehicle, take the car to a garage to be sure of its real condition.
Turning to a used car is a first step to make nice savings. It's not uncommon to come across real bargains.
But, be careful not to get tricked . Keep in mind that it is quite possible that you will get a good deal on the purchase, but then you will be forced to spend a fortune on repeated repairs.
In our opinion, the best deals are generally made with newer cars (between 1 and 5 years old), because their Argus rating may well have dropped and you benefit from all the new generation options or controls and a car in good condition.
Otherwise, to save a lot of money, consider looking at manufacturers' collaborator cars. There are real bargains! These are very recent vehicles (between 6 months and 1 year old), therefore still under warranty, and generally in very good condition.
