Buying a second hand or pre-owned car or van is fraught with pitfalls. If you aren’t a mechanical expert how can you be certain that your money will not be wasted on a car or van that simply breaks down immediately after you’ve purchased it?
Luckily the headache of buying a replacement car doesn’t occur very often. On average we tend to do this around every two or three years. But buying a vehicle is one of the biggest buys that any of us will ever make. Getting a good deal is the top of most people’s priority lists, that is why they choose a second hand vehicle rather than new. Depreciation in value is enormous for many new vehicles with some falling in value by as much as 50% immediately after purchase. Car and van buyers can take advantage of this depreciation by finding low mileage, well maintained vehicles at a fraction of what they would cost new. But how can you be sure that the vehicle you are buying is both a bargain and reliable.
It’s worth starting by identifying everything you need in your new vehicle. Passenger carrying capacity, luggage space, specification, economy and fuel consumption are all factors that you should consider. You may already have spotted some models that you like so this gives you a great starting point.
Next comes some pricing research. Vehicles that are only one or two years old can be significantly more expensive than those which are three or four years old. This essential stage will tell you what you will need to spend to get what you want.
Having identified some models that meet your requirements and some example prices for these its now time to find a seller who has what you are looking for. The two choices here are basically a private sale or a commercial auto trader. Private sellers tend to be a little less expensive but there may be more risk involved. A used car sales business is likely to cost a little more, but they may provide various benefits such as servicing or loans and insurance.
If you are not a car mechanic it is always recommended that you have a vehicle checked over by someone who is before you commit to a purchase. Also, don’t overlook car leasing or van leasing as alternative finance options as you may find that leasing will give you exactly what you want and you can get that new Audi, for example, at the same monthly amount as you might be paying on a loan to buy a second hand one.
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