Buying a used car can be extremely lucrative, and it only makes sense that you get the car you want in order to maximize your profits. However, we all know that there are risks involved with buying used cars in glendale as well.
It is important to know what type of condition the vehicle is in before you buy it so that there won’t be any surprises later on. You should also negotiate for a lower price if possible, or perform your own due diligence online to find out what other buyers are saying about the quality of the vehicle.
Avoid cars with an accident history
Carfax, Autocheck, and other similar sites can be used to get a vehicle history report. The report will tell you if the car has been involved in any accidents, and if so, what type of repairs were done.
If you notice a lot of expensive repairs on the report, then chances are that the vehicle has ongoing mechanical problems or that it is susceptible to accidents.
Why pay for a car that doesn’t run well? If you are considering purchasing one of these vehicles, then you should definitely negotiate for a much lower price.
Inspect the VIN (vehicle identification number)
VIN is a unique code that is assigned to every vehicle, and each VIN has a history of ownership, as well as the repairs that have been performed on it.
VIN-reading devices and websites are widely available online for less than $50. You can even use this device to trade off your own VIN against someone else’s in an automated format.
If you see that the car has multiple owners, and it shows up on a lot of VIN reports, then the chances are that it has sustained accidents and/or major repairs over its lifetime.
Inspect the car’s history (CMR)
CMR is a report that dealers use to prove the history of a vehicle, as well as add in additional warranty work. It tells you about any major repairs that were done on the vehicle, so that you can cut out bad car deals.
Even though it is owned by the dealer, you are still able to see all of the information about what has been repaired on your vehicle. This can help you figure out if you should purchase a used car or not.
