What To Consider When Buying A Second-Hand Car 

When buying a car, people tend to focus more on their particular budget to determine what suits them best. In hindsight, this is a very good step to contemplate as it creates a narrowed search in ascertaining whether to buy an affordable or luxurious car. When this issue has been resolved, the next course of action will be what car should be bought or what brand the buyer favours and how that car specifically fits into the buyer’s everyday life. 

In Nigeria, when looking at the economic side of things, people without a doubt favour second-hand cars, fairly used or “Tokunbo” as they are commonly called. The reason for this is not only their affordability but also that most of them are durable, efficient, and well-maintained. Car dealers take a penchant for looking at the second-hand cars they sell to their buyers.

It has become rare these days to see badly disposed cars in dealerships, and even if such a car is available, the parts of the said car must be in a desirable working condition before they are sold to any buyer. Whether buying from a car dealership or an individual, there are certain cogent details that the buyer needs to consider and understand so as to get real value for his purchase. While keeping the modest cost of the “Tokunbo” car in mind, more factors should be considered before any decision is made. 

As sellers of second-hand cars ourselves, we have distinguished the importance that it is needed to analyze what to be considered when deciding to get one.

Vehicle History 

When considering buying a second-hand car, it is important that you have as much information as is deemed necessary on the car you wish to buy. Fact-finding is an essential process that must not be misunderstood. When we touch on vehicle history, we mean identifying if the car has been duly registered (so as not to accidentally buy a stolen car) and all correspondence must match what is being purported by the owner or the dealer.

Another circumstance is whether the car had ever been in an accident and if so, was the car insured to cover the damage caused? Another thing to check is if there is any lien or similar agreement on the car. If so, it wouldn’t be advised to carry on with the purchase. It can be difficult to gather all this information, but it is needed for the buyer’s protection as many times these second-hand cars aren’t accorded with a warranty. 

Lifestyle Choice 

The next fact to consider is what the car is to be used for. Although this might have been determined in the preliminary stages, it must be revisited again to ensure the car to be bought fits well into the buyer’s lifestyle. A poorly maintained or mismanaged car, for example, will not fit into the lifestyle of a buyer who wishes to use the car for car-hailing services (Uber, Bolt), regardless of its cost-effectiveness; the buyer should expect short-term usage or weekly visits to the repair shop. The buyer should understand that even when a car is cheap, it must also be durable and efficient to meet the criteria for which it is to be used. This will allow for the longevity of the car. 

Maintenance

This step has two parts. The first is how the car has been maintained and how the buyer should maintain it. For any car, both brand new and second-hand, maintenance should be a topic that is approached for better understanding. In general, car maintenance is accomplished through regular oil changes and scheduled visits to the repair shop; this is a good place to start when a buyer considers the maintenance aspect of a used car, but it is also critical for the buyer to ensure the car being purchased has been well maintained to that point. This can be carried out by checking the paint job, and the tire condition, and also taking the chair for a test drive to ascertain its condition. 

Mileage

Mileage is the total number of miles a vehicle has travelled, especially over a specific time period. The mileage of a car cannot be found unless it is taken for a test drive. It is a thought that should be kept in the buyer’s mind. If you wish to buy a second used car, you must take it for a test drive not only to check the mileage of the car but also to see how it performs on the road.

If there is any problem encountered during that test run, it will become a determinant of whether the car is purchased or not. An average automobile will go 20,000 kilometres annually. Divide the odometer reading by the age of the car to determine whether it has high or low mileage. A car with high mileage will have mechanical parts that are more worn out. This is a very important step that should not be avoided.

Overall Performance

This can be considered the most important step in conjecture with the others. The buyer must ascertain the overall performance of the second-hand car. Unlike brand-new cars, second-hand cars have probably been taken to the mechanic or repair shop and would have had a prior adjustment.

The buyer should be informed of this adjustment made to the car. Also, the buyer should ensure to take an inspection of the interior, the frame, the seatbelt and other safety precautions under the hood and head/tail lights. It is advised that a buyer bring an expert or mechanic to make sure everything is in proper condition before the sale is done, so as to ensure value for what he wishes to purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions