4 Tips To Help You Buy The Right Used Car

by Maruti Suzuki True Value Consultant

The used car market in India is almost as big as the new car market and is expanding at an exponential rate. Centered around making more sense financially, used cars also prevent severe loss in value when compared to new cars over the years.

Many people have begun to buy used cars with no respect to their needs or the process involved. But used or not, buying a car is a big deal.Just because you are buying a used car doesn’t mean you should skip on the research, thorough examination, or even a test drive before the purchase.

Here's a quick read that’ll guide you if you are looking for a used car.

1. Understand Your Needs

Mindfully prepare a list of your needs and about how you’ll be using the car, as well as your approximate budget. Very often, people underestimate or overestimate their needs and budget and get swayed while buying a used car.

If you are looking for a daily commute with decent recorded mileage and good service history, small used cars under 3 lakhs can get you a whole lot of options and good value. If you are interested in a more premium product, you should be ready to stretch your budget up to maybe 6 or 7 lakhs. Cars beyond 10 lakhs can be expected to offer near-new condition and excellent value.

2. Check the Condition of the Car

• Vehicle history: Gather as much information as you can from the current owner, and then do your own research. Remember to find out if there are any common issues that have been observed with that particular make and model year.
• Exterior condition: Take a walk around the car and keep an eye out for any rusty spots or paint chips. Carefully examine the exterior body panels and the roof for misalignment or gaps, look for scratches, dents and repairs. Small rust patches can be expected, depending on the age of the car, but unusually big patches are a big red flag.
• Tyres and Suspension: Ensure that the tyres speak the same amount of Kms run as the odometer says, or check proof of newer upgrades. To ensure the shock absorbers are still good, take a walk around the car and bounce each corner, it shouldn’t rebound more than once. 
• Interior condition: Do not forget to thoroughly examine all the electronics of the cars as they are easily broken. The power window switches, the infotainment system, air conditioning, headlamps and taillamps, and all other electronic components in the cockpit should be working properly.

Also keep an eye out for unusual wear and tear of the seat fabric and upholstery, stains and cracked leather – which might indicate a longer life than what the seller is expressing.

3. Check the Documents

When buying a used car, the following documents are involved in the transfer process:

• Registration Certificate (RC): Ensure that the document is original and not a copy, and transfer the RC of the car in your name.
• Invoice of Car Purchase: An individual seller might not be able to provide this document, in which case a receipt should be provided to you to serve the purpose.
• Insurance Documents: It is important to check and transfer the insurance documents in your name, along with the NCB. Also check if the premium was paid regularly and if the insurance was availed in the last 2-3 years, indicating repairs.

4. Test Drive

Finally, take a test drive of the car to put it through the paces and test its maneuverability, acceleration, braking and suspension. You can also take your trusted mechanic with you for an inspection, so that he can determine if the vehicle has any underlying issues or areas that might become an issue in the future. After all, a good value used car under 3 lakhs shouldn’t ask for repairs and maintenance of another 1 lakh soon after you buy it, simply because you missed an issue with it.

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Created on Jan 31st 2022 02:56. Viewed 198 times.

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