Buying a second hand car can save you a chunk of money compared to buying a brand new car. There are other advantages that we also mention from our previous article about buying a second hand car.  However, it can also be challenging considering the many factors that you need to take into account for. 

To help you come out with a smart decision, here are some practical tips to help you with pre-owned car purchase. 

1. Understand your options

From understanding the car model, market price, to asking your friends who have owned a particular model that you’d like to buy, you need to equip yourself with enough knowledge before you make a purchase. 

Conduct basic research about the car so you can manage your expectations. You can also join car forums or groups to find out more information. The more information you gather, the better, which can help you in narrowing down your options.

2. Set a budget

You have to figure out how you are going to pay for the pre-owned car. You should set your budget not only for the car purchase but also for maintenance, replacement, and repairs. Andy Leuterio of TopGear suggests allocating at least 20% of the purchase price to ensure that your car is ready for the road.  

If your current budget doesn’t permit you to buy the second hand car that you are eyeing, you can consider financing. For example, RFShop offers pre-owned items such as vehicles with various models or brands, and they are also open for financing. 

3. Check and review car’s documents

Before you get hooked on the car offer, you need to review the documents of the car to check if it’s legitimate or not. Review its Certificate of Registrations (CR) and Original Receipt (OR). If the seller cannot provide these documents (that’s a red flag), you have to think twice. The last thing you want to hear after buying the second hand car is that the vehicle is carnapped. Always go after the car with clean documents which will give you peace as a car owner later on. 

With RFShop, all cars that are being offered have complete car documents such as OR, CR, Original LTO plate number and notarized Deed of Sale. 

4. Inspect the vehicle

After checking the documents of the car, you also have to inspect the vehicle itself. You have to examine the car meticulously from its external to internal body. You can check the following:

–        Is the body paint of the car still of good quality?

–        Have you checked the lights if it’s working well?

–        Is the A/C working at both the lowest and highest settings?

–        Are there body filler and painted over to hide scratches?

These are some things you need to inspect when you are planning to buy a second hand car.

With RFShop, you can visit the nearest REPO yard in your location so you can check the variety of second hand cars that are available and on sale. 

5. Go for a test drive

Safety should always be on top of your priority. Go for a test drive to find out its performance on the road. Check the breaks and steering wheel. Listen carefully if there are disturbing sounds that can spark the problem of the car.

If you are not still well-versed when it comes to understanding the condition of the car, you can bring someone who can help and guide you when having the test drive. A mechanic can help you find these kinds of issues and can tell you if these issues can still be fixed or not.