Buying a used vehicle can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. Often, individuals do not know where to begin and end up purchasing a vehicle they felt pressured to buy by some salesman. Not only does this leave the customer with a vehicle he or she may not have initially chosen, but it can also lead to dire financial consequences if the vehicle is a lemon. How do you really know you are purchasing a dependable vehicle? Follow the steps below to find out more about the history of used vehicles.
First, contact he vehicle’s owner to inquire about the current state of the vehicle, as well as its history. Have a comprehensive list of questions for the vehicle’s owner. Consider asking the following questions:
- How many owners has the vehicle had?
- Has the vehicle been in any serious car accidents or been seriously damaged by floods?
- Are there any defects with the vehicle?
- Is the title of the vehicle clear of liens?
- What factors did they consider when setting the asking price?
- Is there a warranty on the vehicle?
Second, as former President Nixon said, trust by verify. Verify the information given to you by the owner by running the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You can do this from sites like Carfax or Autocheck. By running this check, you will be able to see the following:
- Whether the vehicle has a title clear of liens
- Whether the car has been in serious accidents
- Whether the car was ever declared “totaled” or has a salvage title
- Who has owned the car and when
In addition to the above factors, some reports may also show information, such as whether the vehicle was maintained properly or whether the odometer was spun backwards. While these reports cost money, they are deemed a necessary expense and can save you thousands down the line.
Finally, always have a mechanic check out the vehicle before you make an offer on it. While this can add an expense to the purchasing process, it will save you thousands if it prevents you from buying a lemon. The mechanic should be a neutral third party and trusted. Never use a mechanic from the dealership you are purchasing from, as this is a clear conflict of interest.
When you purchase a used vehicle, you should always double check to make sure everything is in good, working order. If the vehicle requires SRS airbag module reset, Safety Restore can help. Most auto-manufactures and dealers will not service an SRS airbag module reset. Instead, they will tell the vehicle owner to get a new SRS airbag module, which can cost upwards of $1000. However, Safety Restore offers SRS airbag module reset service that is affordable and less wasteful because it uses the original SRS airbag module. Using factory OEM software, the SRS airbag module reset occurs when Safety Restore overrides crash data and hard codes, leaving it in perfect working order. Contact Safety Restore about SRS airbag module reset service today!
