Buying a second-hand car without tears
Auctions are a no-no -- as well as an emphatic no
WE all like to dream of a state of Utopia — but unfortunately there are always people in the real world who will cheat you out of your last cent.
The euphoria of getting your first car is unique. And it is this state of mind that unscrupulous people exploit when they sell you a vehicle.
The Consumer Protection Act states clearly that a dealer must declare everything about a vehicle before he sells it. This protects both the dealer and the buyer.
However, the act does not apply to a private sale, which could end up with what looked like an awesome deal becoming a very nasty mess.
So how do you buy a car without being ripped off?
There is always someone out there waiting to cheat buyers, but I can try to reduce the chance of that happening to you.
Let’s talk about buying a car from a dealership or second-hand car dealer.
Some of the questions to ask are:
1. Has the car been in an accident? If not, can you have that in writing?
2. Can you take the car for an independent test by the Automobile Association?
3. Does the car have a roadworthy certificate?
4. Is the kilometre reading the true figure? Again, ask for that confirmation in writing.
5. If the car is fairly new, can you run the VIN — or vehicle identification number — to check the service history?
6. Can you have the vehicle’s original manuals and service book?
7. Does the car have a spare key? With the advent of keyless ignition, making your own spare key can be expensive.
8. Could you have the details of the previous owner to check if the car is as the dealer claims it is?
9. Do you get a six-month unlimited mileage guarantee and does it cover all components?
10. Can you have in writing the real cost of the vehicle including the “on- road” costs? These are the costs claimed by the dealer to register the vehicle and make it roadworthy.
And, yes, I believe it is wrong to charge you for something the dealer should be doing anyway to sell the vehicle. Just remember: the “on-road” costs, as with anything else, are negotiable.
Can you imagine the dealer charging you extra to wash the car?
When buying a vehicle privately — in other words, not from a dealer — you have to be extra careful, because you have no recourse once you have handed over your cash.
The most important question to ask here is whether the owner has paid off the car in full if he bought it through hire purchase. You must also insist on seeing the registration papers.
The rest of the questions are pretty much the same, except for the fact that you cannot ask for a guarantee.
When paying, do not carry any cash. Transfer the money electronically because this can be traced if there are any queries later.
Never meet the seller in places that make you feel uneasy.
Sometimes, in fact, the money saved by avoiding a dealership is hardly worth the aggravation. So what about auctions? No. No. No. And an emphatic no.
You may think that you know about cars, but once you have paid the auctioneer you also have no recourse, no matter what the problem is with your new purchase.
If you have no option but to buy from an auction, take your trusted mechanic with you. And avoid auctions altogether when buying your first car.
These days, buying a vehicle comes down to doing your homework, which means visiting motoring websites to get an idea of what car will suit your budget. Then, armed with this information, go and get your car.
So, when buying a vehicle, car dealers seem to be the way to go. Just ask the right questions and ensure that any guarantees given are in writing.
Also, pay a bit more if you can get an after-market warranty if the vehicle’s factory warranty has expired.