Things You Should Know Before Buying a Used Car

With the price of new cars always going up and the downturn of the economy meaning that fewer people than ever can afford to buy a new car, buying a used car is getting more and more popular. A new car can lose up to 30% of its value in its first year so it makes sense to buy a used car instead of a new one, but how do you make sure you are making the right decision when buying a used car? Here are a few things to look out for when buying a used car that will ensure that your next car ownership will not be plagued by expensive trips to the garage.

Even before you go and see an advertised used car, there are a few things you can ask the seller over the phone that will avoid you a fruitless car shopping trip. Ask the seller the following questions and if you feel that he or she is hesitating a lot or sounds insincere, you know that buying that car would be a mistake.

How old is the car? The older a used car is, the cheaper it is, but this also means that the condition of the car is probably not as good as if it was one or two years old. Make sure the used car is priced accordingly to its age.

How many miles are on the odometer? This should be consistent with the car's age; the average car has a yearly mileage of about 10000 miles; be very weary if someone tries to sell you a ten year-old used car that has a low mileage; this may mean that the odometer has been tampered with, a practice that is unlawful and that you as the buyer may eventually have to pay for.

What features does the car have?

If you live in a country where the weather gets very hot, go for a used car with air-conditioning; if you are a music lover, you will need a car with a good stereo; the features add extra value to the car you want to buy and if there are not many features on the used car you are interested in buying, you can use that fact to try and get a lower price, but not until you have seen the car.