How to Get the Best Deal for Your New Ride
So, you're in the market for a used vehicle? Whether you're headed to a dealership or meeting with a private seller off of Craigslist, you'll want to do some thorough research and ask about important details—or you might risk running into trouble on the road. Beyond the reported mileage and maintenance records, here are 20 key questions to ask before signing the dotted line and driving off.
1. Why Are You Selling It?
When you're planning to buy from a private seller, you want to know their reason for putting their vehicle up for sale. Sometimes, they may simply just want to upgrade and get a newer car. Other times, though, there could be major issues with the vehicle they're selling—which could then be passed onto you.
2. How Old Is the Car?
Ideally, you'd want to do some research and answer this question yourself before you meet up with a private seller or head up to the dealership. A car depreciates in value almost as soon as you drive it off the lot. Take into account the specific make and model as well. All this information can help you negotiate for a better price.
3. Can I See the Vehicle History Report?
A vehicle history report will tell you key details—think maintenance records, previous owners, accidents, and major repairs—about the car before you pull the trigger. A dealership can provide this document for free, but private sellers may not have this ready in hand. Alternatively, you can ask for the vehicle identification number (VIN) so you can check this yourself.
4. How Long Have You Had It?
While you might think this question is redundant, given that you can review history reports of the vehicle to gather more detailed information, asking this essentially puts private sellers on the spot. If they've only had the car for a couple of months or a few short years, it might indicate that there's an underlying issue they're hiding from you.
5. What's the Year & Mileage?
On average, a car racks up around 20,000 km a year; any more than that and there will be significant wear and tear. While this number is usually the first thing that's advertised on used cars, it can be an absolute dealbreaker if combined with other factors, so make sure you do your research and inspect carefully.
6. Does It Currently Have Any Mechanical Problems?
Unless you're a car expert yourself, asking this question can yield one or two common replies: no, or—if the seller is honest—yes, but it's fixed. Regardless, you'll want to take a good look around and make sure everything is fine before you put your money down, or else you'll risk running into trouble later down the road.
7. Has There Been Any Recalls or Major Repairs?
While this information can also be seen in the vehicle history report, you'll want to dig up as much information as you can about major repairs done on the car and any accidents it might have been in. And if the particular model you're inspecting has had multiple recalls by its manufacturer, let that be a sign that you should probably look elsewhere.
8. Can I Take It to a Mechanic?
Before you decide to buy a used vehicle from a private seller, ask if you can take the car to a mechanic for independent inspection. If they say no, walk away. Their refusal usually means that the car has a problem they're not being honest about.
9. How Many Previous Owners Does the Car Have?
While, again, this is something you'll be able to see in the vehicle history report, if you're buying from a private seller, chances are they might fib this information if they don't have that document in hand for you to review. You'll want to ask them not only how many previous owners the vehicle had, but how long each of them had it for.
10. Can I Test Drive the Car?
Always ask if you can test drive a car, whether it's used or new. This will give you hands-on experience of how the vehicle works, how it sounds, how it drives. Choose a route that allows you to test its limits and see how it handles different terrains. If a private seller is reluctant, warning bells should go off in your head. You can also ask if they want to come along so they can keep an eye on their car.
11. Are There Any Other Extra Fees?
When you're at a dealership, rarely will the showing price be the final total you'll pay. Even after you've reached the end of a lengthy negotiation, you'll still want to double- (and triple-) check that there won't be any extra fees—like documentation or dealer preparation fees—that might be tacked on to the end cost.
12. Has the Car Been in Any Accidents?
Typically, all accidents a vehicle has been in should show up on the history report—but not accidents are reported. Plus, the extent of the damage may not be detailed in full on the document, so you'll want to clarify with the seller on top of asking how the vehicle was repaired.
13. How Did You Come to This Price?
Whether you're at a dealership or meeting with a private seller, the price you see might seem arbitrary at first. Do research beforehand to see the cost range of the particular vehicle you're looking at, then factor in other specific details. Even if it's a fair offer, you may still want to negotiate after doing your own inspection.
14. Is There Any Damage to the Exterior?
Of course, you can see this for yourself when you inspect the vehicle, but it's a good gauge to see if the seller is telling the truth. Plus, asking this before meeting up allows you to decide whether it's even worth your time to go view it.
15. What Does the Interior Look Like?
You'll also want to thoroughly inspect the interior. Do all the parts work? Is there significant wear and tear or rusting of the fabrics and material? Does the car have a permanent smell that's been baked into it, like smoke? While some of these might not be dealbreakers, you'll still want to see for yourself how well (or not) the car's been taken care of.
16. Is It Still Under Warranty?
If you're viewing a car from a private seller, this question might not apply, but remember to ask this if you're at a dealer. Cars that are certified pre-owned typically come with extended warranties, and some vehicles may still be under their manufacturer's warranty. This will give you some protection if you run into any defects after driving off. Be wary if dealerships offer an extended warranty, though—the price may be much steeper than the repairs themselves.
17. How Will This Impact My Car Insurance Premiums?
Many factors go into calculating your car insurance premiums, and the type of vehicle you decide to buy, depending on its make and model, greatly affects this cost. You can ask your insurance agent how much you can expect the bump to be.
18. Do You Have the Car Title?
The car title is a proof of ownership. You'll want to ask to see this no matter whether you're viewing at a dealership or from a private seller, but it's definitely much more important in the latter case. If the seller doesn't have this document ready, it could indicate that the vehicle was stolen. You'll also want to ensure it doesn't have a salvage title, which would mean it was declared as a total loss by the insurance company and is illegal to drive.
19. Do You Have Maintenance Records?
To check if the car has been loved and taken care of, you'll want to know how regularly it was maintained. If it hasn't been repaired in a while and contains parts deemed out-of-date, be wary. No matter how shiny and new it might look on the surface, there could be defects hidden underneath that indicate ill health.
20. Do You Accept Trade-In Vehicles?
This is a question to ask at a dealership. If you're buying a used car that's newer than your current one, you may be able to trade in your old vehicle to offset the negotiated price, bringing the cost down further. You may also want to get an estimated trade-in value from multiple dealers so you get the best deal.
