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5 things to know if you want to buy a used car cheap
by Terry Bolton
Ever thought you wanted to buy a cheap car and then been overwhelmed by all the possible ways that your cheap car could become very expensive? When you buy a car you can get some great car prices, but there are a few common tricks to look out for from dishonest salespeople, particularly when you buy a used car for sale by owner. Regardless of the dealer, when you buy used car cheap tricks should always be in the back of your mind, so that you can recognize and avoid them.
1. The Odometer Rollback
Winding back the speedo is a used car scam as old as car sales itself. Whenever you are investigating an old car there is a chance that the odometer has been tampered with. Even the new digital odometers are not immune to this dirty trick and a number of 'calibration' companies even offer the service over the internet. The best way to avoid it when you are looking at a cheap used car online, at a car yard or even in a private sale, is to get a history report of the car. The history report will tell you previous odometer readings so you can buy used car cheap.
2. Watch the Price
It's all very well to want to buy used car cheap, but who decides what is cheap? The value of a second hand car is always going to be much less than if you buy new car or cars for, but just because someone is a used car dealer doesn't give them the right to set prices. Try a few online search terms like 'buy cheap car' or 'buy lease car' and you'll quickly be able to find the cost of a similar car if you elected to buy car online. Compare prices at different sites, and even ring around car yards, then you will know the approximate price a used car and not only have negotiating power, but also can make a good decision on whether you want to lease vs buy car depending on price and your needs.
3. Know Your Warranty
When you buy used car cheap dealers will not throw in a warranty. When you think about it not having a warranty on a used car is quite silly. You don't know where it's been or what it's been through, so having a little cover is always a good idea. You may find that some warranties are still in place on a car - this deals particularly with manufacturers warranties. But it's always a good idea to get additional coverage and sometimes a used car dealer will throw it in as a way to close the sale. Get it in writing.
4. No Really - Know Your Warranty
Ever heard of secret warranties? manufacturers will often offer free servicing on certain models to fix known faults. But they don't tell everyone about it. Your car could need work which you may be able to get for free, or reimbursed. You could set out to buy used car cheap with the knowledge that the manufacturer is going to pick up the bill for necessary repairs.
5. Who Owns This Car?
It should go without saying, but just because someone has possession of a car does not mean they are the owner. Again an auto history check can sort that out easily without the risk of offending anyone.
So now you know a few of the things that you should be aware of and check out when looking for a cheap used car for sale. The really neat part is yet to come and that is all the fun you will have searching to buy used car online or even around your local car yards. Many people are put off by what can go wrong and don't focus on the many savings that can be made when they buy a car second hand.
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