Selecting from the thousands of used cars for sale out there for the first time can be difficult – regardless of if it’s your first car overall, or just the first time you’ve chosen to buy a used one.
Whatever your situation, we thought it would be wise to provide you with a few pointers as to what to consider before purchasing your first used car.
- Budget- it’s a given that used cars are cheaper than brand new ones, but you still need to be thoughtful about the money you are willing to spend, and the money that you may need to spend on insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc. It’s also important to remember that tracking down spare parts – if you ever need them – may be more costly and more difficult, especially if the car is an older model.
- The kind of car you want- it’s best that you be realistic when determining what kind of car you wish to purchase. For starters, it’s not very likely that you’re going to find any newer models whilst shopping, or anything too high-end or extravagant.
If you’re picky about things such as manufacturer, make, colour, etc, it may be best to purchase your car through a medium such as an online site, so you can search for the car you want more efficiently.
- If you want to buy privately or through a dealer- by ‘privately’, we mean through a classified newspaper listing or through an auction site. Both come with their pros and cons; buying privately – more specifically through online auction sites – allow you to view a car of your choice straight away- but they are less reliable and safe than going through a dealership.
These are just a few pointers though. Take your time, do your research, and you’ll be driving away in the used car of your dreams before you know it.