Buying A Used Car? Don't Forget To Ask These Questions

When buying a used car, there are questions that most people know should typically be asked: things like "how many miles does the car have," "do you offer a warranty on this vehicle?" or "what work has been done to it?" but there are many aspects that can be overlooked. In order to make sure that you get the best deal possible when shopping for a used car, you need to remember to find out everything about the car, which means that you need to really probe the salesperson for information. Here are some of the most commonly-overlooked yet important questions that you should ask when shopping for a used car:

How Long Have You Had the Car?

If the car you are purchasing is at a dealership, one of the first things you should ask the salesmen is how long they have had the vehicle. If they just got it in, that means that there is a chance they may not have been able to look it over yet and do any work on it. On the other hand, if it has been there for more than two or three months, that may mean there is a lack of interest in that particular vehicle. If the latter ends up being the case, find out why the car hasn't sold yet. In some cases, it could be an issue as simple as the fact that the car is selling in the wrong climate (a truck being sold in the summer, or a sports car being sold in the winter, for instance). As long as the answer doesn't reveal any major problems with the vehicle, it should be okay to purchase.

Are Copies of the Service Records Available?

While people typically know to ask their car salespeople for a vehicle history report, they generally don't think to ask for copies of the service records. When shopping for a used car, you should ask the people at the dealership for records of all the work that they did to it after obtaining possession of the car. If they claim they don't have these records, or if they refuse to give you copies of these records, walk away. Every used car owner vitally needs copies of the service records so that if something goes wrong with the car after they buy it, they can look at the records and see what the vehicle has already had done to it and then narrow down the possible problems from there.

Does it Need Any Further Work Done to It?

Just because the dealership that you are visiting has done work to the car you're interested in, that doesn't mean that they have completely fixed every problem that the car has. In most cases, used cars will still need to have a little bit of work done to them after you drive them off the lot, though that is to be expected. If the dealership tells you that it does need work, make sure that it's something minor, like a windshield wiper replacement or scratch and dent repair. If it needs a major repair like a transmission overhaul, then walk away, because chances are that the repair cost will greatly exceed the value of the car.

Buying a used car can be fun and easy if the right questions are asked. If you want to reduce stress and hassle and save yourself a lot of time and money, then make sure to ask the three questions above when at the dealership. If you do so, you can rest assured that you will get the best deal possible and won't get taken for a ride. Talk to experts like Kings Quality Auto Sales for more information.

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