The Indian automotive industry might still be struggling with poor sales figures, but the pre-owned or used car market is growing at a fast pace. Car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota have registered tremendous growth in their used car business. In recent times, the German trio Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW has also invested money and efforts in pre-owned car segment.
Buying a used car is certainly the best choice for the new-learners and buyers who want to own a new or desired model at lesser price. Most automakers have their own used car brands, from where one can buy used cars in India, certified by original manufactures.
There are few simple things to check before buying a used car, usually mentioned in the used car buying guide that will help you get the best deal.
Top Used Car Buying Tips:
Decide on your budget
The first and foremost thing to do is finalizing your budget. This will avoid the distraction caused by the cars that you can’t afford and unwanted financial crisis. It’s important to consider the registration, fuel, maintenance and insurance costs. For insurance and interest, if you are getting a loan, search around and decide on the best one.
Know your needs
Once you get a budget, figure out your basic requirements and the type of car that can fulfill your objectives. For instance, if you are a four-member family and need a car for regular city driving, then a compact hatch will solve your purpose. Many used car websites allow the customers to purchase by type of car, makes and variants n different price range.
Do research
Before buying a used car, do some homework i.e. look for the current price of the model that you are going to buy, read its expert reviews, latest car news etc. Spend time searching for used car brands and their ads.
Contact the dealer or seller
Before you test the vehicle, contact the seller and verify the information mentioned on the website or ad. Don’t hesitate to ask questions such as
- Why is he/she selling the car?
- For how long he has had the vehicle?
- Does it have any problem or damage?
Test-drive the car
Test-driving will help you to know the car’s condition and driving capability.
Check the car’s history
Make sure that car shouldn’t be a stolen one, encumbered by loan or rejected previously. Ask for the service records, VIN number and registration details of the vehicle.
