How do you know a second-hand car is right for you? For many, price is the main factor, but you also want to make sure it’s in good working condition.
However, a recent survey has found that many drivers don’t check their vehicle’s history when buying.
Over a third of Britain’s drivers fail to check if their second-hand car has been involved in an accident. The surprising stat comes from Close Brothers Motor Finance, who surveyed over 2,000 drivers about what they look at when purchasing a second-hand vehicle.
36% of drivers admit to not checking vehicles for any accident damage or if a car has been involved in a previous accident. An additional 22% fail to check the vehicle’s mileage and 37% don’t bother to look at whether the car has service history.
These checks are crucial when buying a used car, especially if you want a reliable vehicle that won’t break down.
Looking at the biggest factors when choosing a second-hand car, 65% said price is the biggest factor. In today’s cost of living crisis, this isn’t a surprise. The second biggest factor is fuel costs (44%) and road tax costs (42%).
Meanwhile, just 16% think about regional charges such as the London ULEZ zone and 10% don’t factor in anything specific when buying a used vehicle.
John Cassidy, managing director of sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “Carrying out simple tasks, such as checking the mileage, fuel economy, and service history of a vehicle, are quick and easy ways to ensure a car being purchased has less risk of becoming a financial ticking time bomb.”
If you buy a used car privately, it’s important to remember that you don’t have the same legal protection as when buying from a dealer. So, this means it’s up to you to ask the right questions and check the car thoroughly before you buy.
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