Top Tips and Tricks for Buying a Good Used Car in India | Autospoke
Discover essential tips and tricks for buying a good used car in India. Learn what to look for, how to inspect the car, and how to avoid common pitfalls when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. | Autospoke
The used car market in India has grown steadily over the past decade, with more and more people seeing the financial benefits of buying a pre-owned car over a new one. A change in perception that used cars are not reliable has also helped, and the used car market is projected to be twice as big as the new car market by 2025. It’s good to keep a few things in mind when you buy used cars, so here’s a quick used car buying guide to help you understand exactly what to look out for.
What Type of Car Should You Buy?
Let’s start with the basics: what car suits your needs and lifestyle? For example, those living in areas with bad roads should opt for a vehicle with high ground clearance. On the other hand, people looking for a comfortable highway cruiser that can carry enough luggage can opt for an MPV or a sedan. Similarly, if you primarily drive in the city, perhaps a hatchback is the best bet for you.
Make a list of things that you would need from your used car and then, start looking for models that fall in your budget. You can use our car price calculator to figure out the right resale value of any vehicle.
Always Check Used Cars During the Day Inspecting a used car under natural light is the best way to catch any imperfections such as scratches, minor dents, or paint imperfections. Used car showrooms sometimes display their car under bright lights that can mask exterior damage to the car, especially minor scratches.
A car that is two years old or less and has run less than 20,000 km is a good bet. However, based on your budget you can go for an older car, especially if it’s still in production and spares are easily available.
How Old is ‘old’?
It is also important to check the service records. This way, not only can you ensure the car was regularly serviced at authorised service centres, but ensure the odometer has not been tampered with.
Get the Car Checked by a Mechanic
Even if you’ve been using cars for years or have a good understanding of the mechanical components, it’s good to have any used car you might purchase inspected by a skilled mechanic. Not only will the mechanic have a good eye for even the smallest niggles, they will even give you an idea of how much any repair work will cost.
Check VIN and Obtain Service Records
Every car that is sold comes with a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This number can be used to identify the date of manufacture and the service records from the authorised service centres.
Check Insurance Records
You can easily gather data on all insurance claims made at the service centre. Through this, you can easily understand what all the vehicle has been through mishaps it has been involved in. Usually, car owners get repairs done at authorised dealerships through insurance.
Take a Long Test Drive, Multiple Times
Take the car you plan to buy on a long test drive. In fact, take it on multiple test drives. You can even ask your mechanic or a friend to drive the car and see how they feel about it.
Look for Rust Spots
It’s best to stay away from vehicles even with small rust spots. Rust reduces the structural rigidity of the vehicle, and can be hard to get rid of permanently. Apart from the body panels, make sure you check the car’s underbelly, running boards, and engine mounts for rust.
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