As the federal budget is revealed, how does this impact young Aussies.
The journey of buying a car looks different for everyone. If you’re buying a pre-loved vehicle, instead of one brand new, the hard work in saving your money to purchase the car is still an achievement. A pre-loved vehicle, whether young or old, is a reason to celebrate a massive milestone.
Since COVID, the wait times for new cars has increased heavily. Buyers are waiting up to 18 months for a car, but purchasing a pre-loved set of wheels could get you on the road in just days.
Due to limited resources in manufacturing new cars, second hand cars are a great alternative as there are a range of options available on market to suit your needs and desires, without the hefty price tag.
Here are our top tips before dropping that cash.
1. Look up seller reviews
If you are going the route of buying a used car from a dealership or car yard, it’s important to look up reviews of the business from other buyers. You can hear horror stories of buyers spending all their savings on a car from what they assumed was a reputable business and ending up with a lemon🍋 costing them significant amounts of money in repairs to fix faults.
2. Get your Vehicle / VIN Check
If you’re looking to purchase a second-hand vehicle, it’s important that you conduct a Motor Vehicle History Check. This can ensure that your future purchase is free from debt, safe from repossession, has never been written off or reported stolen, and information on the current registration.
3. Check the exterior and interior
Now that it has come time to view the car you’re interested in, it is crucial to check the interior for any damage or faults. Start by checking that the radio, central locking, aircon and heating dashboard lights and metres are working, wipers and indicators are doing their job with no check engine light and confirm the KM range is what is advertised. For the exterior, open the bonnet and have a look inside, check the lights, petrol cap, and inspect for any damage not noted by the seller.
4. Test drive
You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive, right? Test driving is an essential step before making any vehicle purchase, so that you can see how the vehicle drives. Examples of what to look out for include:
- If it makes any weird noises when turning the wheel or changing gears,
- If it takes off and breaks easily,
- Is the Engine running well,
- Do you feel comfortable driving,
- Can you see the road and your surroundings with the height of the vehicle,
- Can you park it easily?
These are all factors that play a big part in making the long-term investment that is purchasing a vehicle.
5. Check the fuel consumption and owner reviews
We are all aware of the current elevated petrol prices in the market. Did you know that its super simple to look up a cars fuel consumption online? Whilst you’re doing that, take a look at the reviews from people who own the make and model from the same year to see if there are any recalls or major problems owners are experiencing.
6. Check safety ratings
A simple step you can take from the comfort of your own home is looking up the safety rating of the vehicle you are interested. Not only does a higher safety rating mean a safer drive for you and your passengers, but it can also mean a lower insurance cost.
7. Hire a professional to inspect the car
Have you ever heard of a pre-purchase car inspection? A qualified mechanic will come and perform a thorough inspection on the vehicle to provide you a report and determine any faults and hidden issues under the hood you may have missed.
8. Negotiate pricing
Now that you’ve obtained a pre-purchase report on the vehicle, you can negotiate a better price for any repairs that will need to be made. It’s also worth shopping around for similar vehicles at lower prices to stay informed of its market value and better assist you in your negotiating.
We hope that these 8 tips help with the daunting task of making the financial decision to invest in a car. Don’t forget, our vehicle searches can take some of the stress out of making that big decision.
Simply enter the vehicle’s registration or VIN number and select the state where the car is registered and select add to cart. Once you checkout, you’ll receive your vehicle check report within an hour or less*, directly to your email or registered InfoTrackGO account.
*Most vehicle searches will be returned within the hour from time of purchase.
The content provided in this blog is intended solely for general information and awareness around our product offerings. It does not constitute personalised advice for any specific individual or organisation and should not be solely relied upon. All information within this blog post is generalised and does not consider the unique situations, circumstances, or requirements of any individual or organisation. Always seek professional advice and consider the suitability of the information to your specific goals and needs before taking any action based on the information presented.
Saving for something big?
Perform your due diligence and start searching to see what reports we have available.
