7 Common Mistakes First Time Second Hand Car Buyers Make

As a busy professional, you are hard pressed for time. You need to buy a used car, but have no clue as to how to get a good deal in second hand cars.

Avoid making these common mistakes that most first-time buyers of used cars make. It is extremely important to avoid making these costly mistakes when you're shopping for a used car.

• Not doing proper research before buying a second hand car: 

As a used car buyer, it is imperative that be aware of the entire process involved in buying used cars. Do your research well, and buy from a trusted source. It makes sense to buy through an online portal like OLX Cash My Car that is backed with the experience of its parent company, and that offers total transparency in procedures.

• Buying a vehicle only on the basis of looks and make: 

Are you obsessed with buying cars of a particular make or manufacturer? So much so that once you find a used car of the same make you rush to purchase it? As a first-time used car buyer, avoid making impulse buys. Make a checklist of your requirements, and purchase as per the checklist.

Once you have decided what you want to buy, and what the price is likely to be, it is time to check out the car, take it for a test drive and make sure everything the seller says about it is true. Either you do it yourself or through a trusted partner like OLX Cash My Car.

• Buying a used car through a dealer: 

It is useful to remember that dealers usually charge at least 10% more than private sellers. An individual selling a used car is not a professional salesperson and is not as skilled at haggling. Further, they might be moving, or, having purchased a new car, and need to make space in the driveway so they are selling the older one. You are likely to strike a good deal with an individual seller whose only concern is “How do I sell my old car quickly?” 

• Not having the car properly checked and inspected: 

Often people buy used cars without having these tested by proper mechanics. However, this proves problematic in the long run. Even if you have to pay for the inspection yourself, it could save you a lot of money later.

The good news is that you can save on inspection costs if you buy through a trusted online portal like OLX Cash My Car that only lists duly inspected cars on its website.

• Foregoing the test drive: 

Most buyers of second hand cars don’t test drive the vehicle before buying. Once the purchase is made, and the car has problems, the new owner regrets the decision. This can easily be avoided by purchasing second hand car through OLX Cash My Car, that offers cars test-driven by its engineers, so that you can be assured of the real thing.

• Going over to the dealer’s place to negotiate: 

Common sense says that once you are in the territory of the opposite party, you tend to agree to most of the other party’s terms and conditions. Go online instead, and get a deal as per your terms. An online portal like OLX Cash My Car offers you a fair deal and complete peace of mind.

• Not checking the vehicle history report: 

In addition to performing a test drive and having the car inspected by a mechanic, it's important to run a vehicle history report, says Evan Tarver in this article. This report tells you of any prior accidents, problems with the car, and the number of previous owners.

If you take care to avoid these mistakes, you can be sure you can find a good deal in used cars.

Happy Buying!