Buying a second hand car? 19 Tips to avoid getting your fingers burnt.
Summary
Follow these 19 tips to ensure you've done just ( personal loans ) about everything to
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- Tips for Saving Money on Car Insurance
- This article argues that you should periodically shop around for the best rates
- What Is Car Insurance?
- This article explains the legal aspect of car insurance
- Car Insurance Gearing Up To Drive Down Costs
- Some comments on pay as you go car insurance and how the internet shopping is helping drive down prices.
- Car Insurance. Its getting increasingly expensive when youre elderly.
- If youre an elderly driver or a member of your family is an elderly driver, this article explains the problems youll discover when trying to find car insurance and some useful advice on what to do.
- Car Insurance. Essential information about Excess payments
- If you increase the excess payment on your car insurance youll save a lot on your premium. This article explains.
Author: Michael Challiner
• Do your homework. Read up about the model of car you're thinking about. Will it perform as you will want? Be aware of any known mechanical problems with that particular model and remember to check them out when you take it for a test drive (see tip 15).
• Look up the current second hand values for the car. Try starting at www.what car .com. Also get some of the second hand car magazines and your local paper. Check out the prices being asked for similar cars.
• Car Insurance is always a major expense. How much will that car cost you to insure? It's easy to find out on the Internet – get a few quotes. It'll just take you ten minutes.
• Also check out the car's other running costs. We're talking about fuel ( bad credit loans ) consumption, servicing and repair bills. Again www.what car .com can help. Ensure you can afford to run the car!
• When you see the car insist on seeing its registration documents and, if the car is more than 3 years old, its MOT certificate. The registration documents will also show the cars' VIN number. Carefully check that the documents tally.
• Always ensure that the person selling the car does actually own it.
• And always see the car at the seller's own home or business premises. Then ensure that the address on the Registration Document is at the same as the address - if not ask why. You should be suspicious.
• Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid? Does the vehicle registration number on the disc match the Registration Document and the number on its number plate?
• Ask to view the cars' Servicing Record. Usually, this will also show the cars' VIN number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills? Ask to see them.
• Now look under the bonnet and look for the VIN Number (it could also be ( cheap mortgages ) on a plate on the inside edge of one of the front doors). Compare the VIN number with the number on the Registration Document and check that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. This will help to ensure that the car hasn't had its identity changed.
• It's best to take a friend with you who knows' about cars – not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and anything that is agreed.
• Don't pay for a car on your first visit and try not to be pushed into putting down a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).
• Ask the owner whether the car is subject to any outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. Then, when you get home, get on the Internet and check out the information provided with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC' web site. Click on “Car Buying” and then “Vehicle ( life insurance ) Status Checks”. The Status Check will cost you £24.99 but it will confirm whether the car has outstanding finance. Best to be safe – without this Check you could find out that a finance company actually has a prior title to the car.
• Carefully examine the car in good daylight. Look carefully for signs of repairs and accident damage. If you have followed our advice and obtained a Vehicle Status Check, that Check will also notify you if the car has previously been “written off”.
