Bargain instead of cost trap – how to recognize a good used car
w hen looking for a used car, you want to spend as little money as possible and get a car that is as good as new. Whether you’re a dealer or a private seller, it’s better to take your time when buying a car.
"you should never let yourself be put under pressure, even if there are several interested parties. there are many good cars on the market," advises ansgar klein of the bvfk (bundesverband freier kfz-handler – federal association of independent car dealers). He and other experts summarize useful tips.
1. Inform yourself about the car you want
If you’re on the lookout, get the best possible information about the car you want in advance. "this is the only way to find out how reasonable a price is, what engine variants are available, what basic equipment is included, what weak points there may be and, above all, what the car once cost when it was new," says bernd meyer from the schleswig-holstein car dealers’ association. A look at comparable models in the vehicle class is also helpful.
2. Don’t buy a used car alone
Buying a car is a matter of emotion. "it’s easy to lose your head and end up with a lot of annoyance. A good guiding principle is therefore: after the buying frenzy comes buying loyalty," says klein.
He therefore advises always taking along a neutral companion who keeps an eye on the facts and is less guided by outward appearances such as a glittering paint job or shiny rims. Four eyes and ears always see and hear more than two.
3. Pay attention to car extras
Extras can significantly influence the price. "especially driving assistance systems and connectivity extras such as live navigation or smartphone connectivity via apple carplay and android auto are now highly sought-after and increase sales prices," says martin weiss, head of DAT’s vehicle valuation department. On the other hand, purely visual gimmicks such as ambient lighting or trim strips have little or no influence on the price.
Conversely, a car can also be cheaper if it lacks extras. "a young golf is certainly much harder to sell without navigation," says meyer. The same applies to luxury cars if they only have cloth seats instead of the standard leather upholstery.
4. Have the checkbook shown before buying a car
Regular maintenance records are still an important indication of how well or poorly a used car has been looked after. "especially with young vehicles, complete maintenance records are elementary in order not to lose the existing warranty to the manufacturer," says weiss.
"with some importers, the warranty period is even up to seven years."the inspection stamp must not be missing from the checkbook. You should also take a look at the digital, paperless checkbook. "the entries can be printed out, although you should make sure that the vehicle data also matches the car you want to buy," says meyer.
5. Year of manufacture and mileage of used cars pay attention
Around 15 to 20.000 kilometers complete cars on average in the year, says bernd meyer. "a ten-year-old car with only 60.000 kilometers is therefore unusual and could be a bargain, if the rest also fits in."
Nevertheless, customers can often make a good deal even with young annual cars, because the loss in value in the first year alone is quite high at 20 to 30 percent.
6. Do not buy repairs on used cars
The mileage also determines which regular maintenance work should be carried out – for example, the timing belt. "these can be real cost traps, upwards of 500 euros," says meyer.
However, since the cost of changing a timing belt varies from car model to car model, customers should find out in advance at what mileage they need to have a certificate of replacement. That starts at 100.The maximum mileage of a used car is about 000 kilometers, but depending on the model it can be as low as 180 kilometers.000 kilometers will be necessary.
7. Beware of false guarantees when buying a car
If you buy from a dealer, you automatically receive a warranty of at least one year. "the commercial seller is liable to the private buyer and may also be liable if a defect occurs later, i.e. not when the car is handed over," says klein.
Caution is advised with questionable warranty offers. Read the small print carefully: "there are sometimes used car warranties offered, for example an engine failure is only covered with 1000 euro. You should keep your hands off it," says klein.
8. The right car color saves money
The majority of cars are offered in the standard colors white, black, gray and silver. Unusual colors can therefore affect the price.
"red, green or yellow are colors that are more accepted for sporty vehicles than for suvs or station wagons, so conversely, such vehicles are then cheaper to have," says weiss. It would be more expensive, however, if vehicles were offered with special finishes such as a matte paint finish or with pearl effect.
9. check speedometer reading and previous owner
If the speedometer reading does not match the history of the car and the overall appearance, alarm bells should ring. "especially if there are owners in the letter who have only owned the car for a short time, caution is advised," says klein.
"the same applies when a private seller supposedly offers the car of the father-in-law or uncle," he warns against so-called "kitchen table dealers". Serious dealers, on the other hand, would take responsibility for a car.
10. Ask about previous damage
The seller must inform the customer of any previous repairs due to an accident, for example. Unless the damage is minor, such as small scratches up to about 1000 euros. "with a professional repair, you can’t assume a reduction in value here either," says DAT expert weiss.
Nevertheless, sellers have increasingly poor chances even with minor damage to the bodywork: "from the surveys for the DAT report, we know that freedom from accidents is very important to customers and ranks second out of 21 criteria – just behind reliability."
what to look for when buying a used car
For the current used car report, dekra examined 15 million vehicles. It turned out that – across all vehicle classes – used cars from German manufacturers are particularly reliable.