Buying a used car (tips)
We give you tips on what to look out for when buying a used car! >> more on the topic of advisors
Especially when it comes to buying a used car, there are often black sheep who make sure that the dream car later turns out to be a nightmare. We give tips on what to look out for in used cars and in the contract!
Who wants to buy a used car- whether from private or from the dealer, can quickly experience a nasty surprise. Often serious sellers are not so easy to distinguish from black sheep. Trustworthy sellers can usually be recognized by the fact that they openly address any previous damage and defects of the used car for sale and provide complete vehicle documentation. In addition, they offer the opportunity to inspect the car at leisure and allow a detailed test drive. To avoid falling for tricks such as a manipulated speedometer, concealed damage or even missing documents, interested parties should follow a few tips for buying a used car. AUTO ZEITUNG explains what to look out for when inspecting, test driving and signing a contract, and how to unmask dubious used car sellers. More on the topic: current used car prices
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Buying a used car: tips for the inspection appointment
Before buying a used car, interested parties should take a close look at the car at the inspection appointment. The old saying "four eyes see more than two" helps here often further, so take a friend or acquaintance. It can also be helpful to have a checklist with you to tick off the list. Numerous providers such as the ADAC, mobile.De or autoscout24.De offer corresponding documents to reveal the most important defects on their websites for downloading. First, it applies to the inspection- which should take place in bright light and good weather if possible pay attention to the exterior appearance of the used car: uneven or different colors in the paint indicate that defects or rust spots have been painted over and perhaps even a case of damage is being concealed. A paint density tester can help to find out whether in some places was filled or repainted. Even if the gap dimensions are different or residues of grinding paste can be detected, the seller may want to hide something. Suspicious is therefore also, if the car is not washed- finally, this also complicates the control of the surfaces. In the same way, screws on trunk and hood components offer clues: if they have already been turned, they are no longer completely painted in the same color as the car. You should also check that the windows, headlights, turn signals and tires are in order and that the inspection sticker is valid. It is also important to look under the car and the hood. For example, a problem with the engine or transmission could be indicated by oil on the underbody. In addition, one should become skeptical if the indication on the oil change tag is higher than the mileage in the dashboard. You should also check whether hoses and seals are leak-proof. And interested parties should also look at the coolant before buying a used car: if it is cloudy, this may indicate a defect in the cylinder-head gasket. More on the topic: costs of the main inspection
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Interior: tips for identifying defects when buying a used car
If you want to buy a used car, you should also check the interior of the car for defects beforehand. If the carpets in the footwell are damp or there is a musty smell, the seals could be leaking. In addition, the proper functioning of the electronic system should be checked from the outside mirrors to the air conditioning system, the windshield wipers and the headlights übe checked. If the seats are heavily worn or worn, the steering wheel worn and also the pedals heavily worn, potential buyers should ask themselves whether this condition matches the stated mileage of the used car. If this is not the case, there could be tacho manipulation. Experienced laymen are quite capable of recognizing these subtleties. But if you want to be on the safe side, have the used car inspected by professionals. A used car inspection is offered by some garages, inspection organizations or automobile clubs. The costs for this are between 100 and 150 euros. An investment that can be well worthwhile if you are spared the trouble after buying a used car.
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Buying a used car: tips for the test drive
Once the inspection of the used car has been completed, potential buyers should insist on a test drive and take sufficient time to do so. Before you start driving, however, you should clarify how the vehicle is insured. In addition, the engine should be cold and should not have been run up to operating temperature beforehand. When you turn on the ignition, the relevant indicator lights in the cockpit should light up briefly and then go out when you start the engine again. In addition, the engine should start without problems and not run out of round. Afterwards, roads with little traffic should be preferred. In addition, the car should also be driven out of town, as certain defects can only be detected at higher speeds. Other things that potential used car buyers should look out for: does the clutch grind?? Are there any irregularities or noises during the test drive?? And what about the braking performance? In addition, a short stop in a parking lot offers the opportunity to take another close look at the car without having to look at it in the neck.
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Buying a used car: what matters in a contract (private/dealer:in)
If you actually want to buy the used car after inspecting and test driving it, you still have to take care of the paperwork, including the contract. contradictions in the vehicle documents are particularly critical, because they often indicate cheating. Therefore, it should be carefully checked whether the information on the manufacturer, chassis number, license plate number and main inspection in the documents corresponds to the information directly on the vehicle. The vehicle identification number can bring additional security here. On most cars, the tenth digit in the form of a letter or number indicates the model year. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but it still gives an indication of the age of the used car. If you want to be absolutely sure, you can also do a VIN check with the manufacturer. When buying a used car, also pay attention to the checkbook: if there is none, if the entries do not match the vehicle or simply look untrustworthy because, for example, they were all written with the same pen, potential buyers should become suspicious. If everything is in order so far, they should make sure to get the full twelve months legal warranty in the purchase agreement- Some dealers try to get around this with tricks such as selling in the name of a private individual. If you want to buy a used car from a private seller, you should make sure that the owner of the vehicle and the seller are identical. If this is not the case, a power of attorney should be requested.
Buying advice
problems after buying a used car: tips
If you follow all the tips and still have bad luck with your car after buying a used car, don’t despair right away. At least within the first six months after the purchase, the law assumes that any defects existed before the purchase. Dealers:inside are entitled to make two corrections afterwards you have the possibility to return the car. Buyers can return a car immediately if it has been parked for a very long time and they were not informed about this until afterwards. This works only for very young used cars. For example, the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled that a long standing time as a reason for returning a vehicle also depends on the number of previous owners and the speedometer reading. In the case of serious defects, however, the chances are very good that the used car will find its way back. These include, for example, concealed accidents and previous owners or damage that cannot be repaired. In the case of purchases from private individuals who exclude any liability for material defects, the situation is somewhat more difficult. the only reason for which the seller must take back the car is fraudulent misrepresentation. However, the buyer must prove that the accidental damage existed before the purchase and that the seller knew about it. Especially for vehicles with several previous owners, this can be very difficult. Ultimately, buying a used car is and will always be a matter of trust, which is why potential buyers should always listen to their gut feeling. Some offers are simply too good to be true.
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