Buying a second hand motor vehicle

Deciding to buy a used car is a bit of a lottery if you don’t have any know-how of car mechanics. Used cars can be riddled with defects that could cost you an awful lot in garage costs if they are not identified before you part with your hard earned dollars.

When you have selected what make and manufacturer of used vehicle that you want, you can then start to look for vehicles of your choosing. One of the best places to search is the internet as most of the large vehicle sales publications have their own websites now, that displays all the motor vehicles that are offered for sale. The variety of website that you may search may variate from region to region but the most well known one in the UK is the auto trader site or magazine.

Once you have discovered your chosen manufacturer and model its then time to ring up the seller to negotiate a price. The first thing that I would advise any one to do before they even go and look at the car is to run an HPI check on the car. An HPI check will cost you a small amount but it can expose information about the motor vehicles history. The HPI check will tell you if the carhas any outstanding hire purchase payments owed against it or if the car is listed as a total write off. If the vehicle has any kind of history then walk away and search for another one.

If the motorcar is clear on the HPI check then it is time to go and examine the motorcar. If you don’t know about vehicles then bring someone with you who dose as they will be able to spot any mechanical faults and also look for signs or symptoms of accident damage. The big motoring association’s offer motor vehicle inspections at a price. They are a little expensive but they could save you a packet in the longer term.

If the car is up to scratch then it’s time to negotiate a deal. By no means under any circumstances offer the trader the full price, you need to haggle and wrangle hard. Let’s say the trader is asking for £3000 for the used motor vehicle and the car is in perfect condition with no glitches and a full service history. Start your barter at £2500 and work from there or even less if you are feeling cheeky. If it’s a private seller then you have more chance of getting a deal but if it’s a trader then you will be in for a fight. In either case make sure you walk away with at least some money knocked off the asking price. Don’t feel cheeky about haggling it is part of the game. If the vehicle has small flaws point these out to the seller as a bargining point, the car may need two tyres or may need some minor repair work let's say and the asking price should be adjusted accordingly.

Please feel free to check out our site where you can look for cars for sale in Liverpool and additionally vans for sale in Liverpool