Your car just let you go and you do not want to invest in a new vehicle. Fortunately, it is possible to make very good profit on the used market. Still need to know the spot ... and not getting ripped off.
Not easy to find the gem in the market for used vehicles. However, bargains are plentiful, with some method and vigilance at your fingertips.
If you had to choose three tips are these:
- Beware of ads too good;
- Do not trust the seller only because you are friendly;
- Be very careful when considering the vehicle.
- To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to also be familiar with the regulations.
Caution is required
Demonstrate a degree of caution should be set! Get help from a qualified person if you do not know it too. Used vehicles offered for sale or exposed must be provided with a label clearly indicating the brand, type and model of the vehicle, the date of first registration, the number of kilometers traveled since that date, and the price . Require this information if they are not displayed.
This labeling especially for vehicles sold by professionals in garages or concessions. But the posters pasted on vehicles sold by individuals must include the same information.
Classifieds, beware!
Many vehicles are sold through classified ads in newspapers and on websites. These ads engage their authors, whether professional or private sellers. If you discover that the vehicle does not match the description in the ad, you can request the cancellation of the sale ... or negotiate with the seller to reduce the price paid.
This is the case for example if the mileage is incorrect, or if the ad described a vehicle first hand (vehicle that the seller is the first owner), whereas this is not the case.
Remember to keep the ads and all advertising material relating to the sale of the vehicle. If the ad is on the internet, make an impression or a screenshot. In case of problems, you can provide proof of the information put forward to selling the vehicle.
Spread ads that do not allow you to test drive and do not get attracted by exceptionally low prices. Beware also of ads with a vendor domiciled abroad and requests payment by money order or Western Union. These situations often hide scams.
The necessary documents to the transaction
If you decide to purchase the vehicle, the seller must give you a number of documents, which we list below. Do not buy the vehicle - and do not pay any money - if the seller is not able to present all the documents immediately, including the registration document!
Also, be very wary if the seller promises you to submit these documents later. In fact, you may be a victim of trafficking in stolen vehicles and recirculated fraudulently.
If you discover, after all, that all the documents you have not been delivered, you can ask for the cancellation of the sale, with possible damages if this has caused you a quantifiable harm. Remember that the seller must give you not only the vehicle but also all the necessary paperwork for registration.
The following documents must provide the seller.
The certificate of sale
This must be prepared in duplicate and signed by both parties. It certifies the sale of the vehicle. Refuse a white certificate not bearing the date of the transaction. Check if the seller is the owner of the vehicle. It must include the following information: the vehicle make, model, color, engine number, chassis number and registration number.
The Registration book (Horse Power)
This indicates the change of ownership and payment of the 'Road Tax'.
A certificate of administrative status of the vehicle
Also known as a "certificate of non-pledge" (link), this document indicates whether the vehicle is pledged. When a vehicle is used as collateral pledged to a person to whom the vehicle owner owes money (for example, the bank that issued him a car loan). When the vehicle is pledged, the owner has no right to sell, and the buyer can not be established then the registration certificate in his name.
The fitness certificate
Once the vehicle has more than seven years, the seller must provide a route authorization certificate (fitness).
Try before you buy: visual inspection of the vehicle
Take your time to carefully examine the vehicle. If you do not have special knowledge of mechanics, have someone accompany you to the appointment by a more knowledgeable person.
Walk around the vehicle to scrutinize the state of the body and tires. Dents, the alignment of the doors or hood defects with the rest of the body can reveal shock or poor maintenance. A fresh coat of paint can hide an accident. Test suspensions by pressing firmly on the sides of the car.
Sit inside the vehicle and observe his condition: the cleanliness, condition of the seats, carpet wear, pedals, the operation of seat belts. Experiment with the commands: Heating, ventilation, turn signals, windshield wipers, power windows ...
Open the hood and check the cleanliness of the engine. Make sure there are no traces of oil leaks. Check the different levels (oil, coolant, brake fluid ...).
Check that the chassis number stamped on the body corresponds to that indicated on the registration certificate and has not been filed.
The test vehicle on the road
Drive the vehicle for a few minutes you will get an idea of the condition of the brakes, handling, and detect if the engine does not make strange noises. If the seller refuses to let you drive is that it has something to hide. Be careful!
Feel free to ask the seller if the vehicle has been in an accident. Never buy a vehicle without seeing and without trying. Do not buy on the basis of simple pictures. Even if the vehicle is offered for sale on the Internet, ask to try before you buy. Do not be fooled by so-called good business opportunity as soon as possible.