The prices of new vehicles have drastically increased due to inflation and manufacturing issues. This has driven most consumers to opt into buying pre-owned vehicles because they are cheaper.
The Brief reached out to pre-owned vehicle sale representatives for tips on what to look out for when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, this is what we found out:
Buy from a certified dealer
This will guarantee that the vehicle has gone to a warehouse and has thus undergone a 360 territory check bumper to bumper as well as checks for damages.
Ask whether the car is accident free
For safety reasons, if the car has had an accident once, it is more likely to have another.
Insurance premiums are higher for cars that have been involved in an accident
Accidents impact the resale value of the car
Ask for the service history of the car
It is important to find a car that has undergone regular service in line with the manufacturing protocols because this means that the car is in good health.
Banks also do not provide financing for cars that do not have a service history.
Ask how many previous owners the car has had
The car should not have had more than two previous owners
Model
It is advisable to get a model not older than 2018 because it may present problems.
If the vehicle is bank financed, the bank charges higher rates the older the model is.
Consider the availability of parts as well as your budget when choosing which model to buy.
Mileage
There are two things to consider when looking at the mileage namely
The purpose of the car: if you are buying a car that will be constantly used for long-distance driving, it is best to buy a car that has a long mileage and has been used for the same purpose by the previous owner because it would have had fewer breaks, therefore, less effect on the braking system. If the car was previously used for inner city driving, it would not be advisable to buy a car with a long mileage because this could have a negative effect on the braking system.
Model and mileage: it is important to check when the car was bought and the amount of mileage the car has accrued. A lot of mileage over a few years (say 2-3 years) is indicative of a misused car therefore the car is more likely to have or start to have problems.
The Brief spoke to pre-owned vehicle sales representatives from Zimmermann Garage, Auto Haus, Pupkewitz Motors and Novel Ford.
