When you are making an expensive financial undertaking like a home purchase, you would not dream of committing your finances before getting the home inspected and approved. The same is true when you are buying a used car.
A car purchase is a major undertaking. As such, it is important that you spend your hard-earned money on a safe and reliable automobile. With a pre-purchase inspection, you will have peace of mind knowing that you are having a better snapshot of what you are about to buy.
Here are three reasons you should carry out a pre-inspection exercise before buying a used vehicle.
An opportunity to establish the vehicle’s actual worth
It is not uncommon for car dealers to quote prices that are higher than the car’s actual worth. A pre-purchase inspection allows you to establish a fair price for the vehicle you are interested in based on its condition. This will help you understand if you are about to get real value for your money or end up with a lemon for a car.
Set the stage for negotiations
Knowing the condition of the vehicle you are about to purchase can give you an upper hand during the price negotiation process. Armed with an inspection report, you will have grounds for negotiating a lower price. And even if the seller turns down your best offer, you can simply move on knowing that you avoided a potentially bad deal.
Avoid unpleasant surprises down the road
Besides the repairs, it is equally important that you take into account the maintenance costs while purchasing a second-hand car. Even if the vehicle seems fine during the purchase, do keep in mind that components like oil filters, tires and brake pads will require replacement at some point. A professional inspection will give you a fair idea about these and other maintenance costs.
A pre-purchase inspection can save you from making a costly mistake while buying a used car. Find out how you can safeguard your rights and interests both before and after purchasing a used car.