If you’re thinking of buying a second-hand fleet of cars for your business, there’s a lot of factors you’ll want to consider. Buying a used car is much riskier than buying a new one. However, there are some tips you can follow to make sure you end up with the best used cars to fit your business needs.
Here, we’ll look at some of the main factors to consider to ensure you’re making the right decision.
Make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller
One of the leading pieces of advice when buying a second-hand car, is to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller. This means, buying from a dealership whenever possible, rather than from a private seller.
You may get cheaper rates from a private seller, but there’s much less security provided. For example, you could buy the car from a private seller, only to realise once you are using it, that there’s something very wrong with it. You try to track the seller down, but they’ve vanished. So, you’re stuck with a car that doesn’t work properly and no way of getting your money back.
Buying from a reliable dealership ensures you have somewhere to turn if anything does go wrong with the vehicle. They often supply set-length warranties too, giving you additional peace of mind.
Carry out relevant checks
Something that will protect you when you’re buying a second-hand car, is carrying out a history check. This will show you numerous things such as how many miles the car has done, how many previous owners it’s had and whether there is any outstanding finance on the vehicle.
You can learn a lot about the car from a history check. While it isn’t done frequently, there are some sellers who will try to lie about the mileage of the vehicle. Altering the mileage may be illegal, but it can happen. So, a history check can help you to ensure that the seller is telling the truth about the mileage, as well as whether or not they actually own the vehicle.
Know when to buy
Did you know it’s more lucrative to buy a second-hand car at specific times of the year? If you’re buying from a dealership, they typically have annual targets they need to meet. So, you’re guaranteed to get the best deals if you buy at the end of March, in June, September or December.
As during these times, dealers are looking to sell as many cars as possible to meet their targets, they’ll be more likely to offer much better deals.
Know what to look out for
So, you know the importance of a history check and when to buy, but what things should you be looking out for?
The first thing you’ll want to check is the condition of the car. If possible, take a mechanic with you to give the car a quick once over. They will be able to tell you whether it’s worth investing in, or if there’s any hidden problems you may be unaware of. You’ll also want to test everything from the radio to the lights. Take the car for a test drive and see how it feels. The more thorough you are in your initial assessment, the less likely you’ll be to fall into buying the wrong car.
Overall, buying a used car is risky, especially if you buy from a private seller. However, the tips above will help you to ensure you make the right purchase decision.
