6 Tips That Actually Help If You're Buying A Car Online

If you're buying a used car online, there are definitely some golden rules you want to know about before taking the leap.     

When it comes to buying a car for sale in Port Elizabeth - our family of 8 (plus 2 dogs), I like to take a hands-on approach. 

With 6 kids to drive around, food shopping to be done, sports teams to carpool and weekend adventures to pack for, we certainly have some very specific needs when we are looking for our “new” used car. 

For our family car though, of course, above all: I want it to know I’m getting a safe car (and for an absolute catch of a price when compared to other cars for sale in Port Elizabeth).

We’ve always bought used cars; from when my husband and I were a young couple, to having 2 kids, 3 kids.... and now 6 kids. We’ve always upgraded as we’ve needed more room with used cars, so that’s always been our preference to buy second-hand.  

There’s a bit of a knack for making sure you’re getting your hands on a great one (and not a lemon). As 6 is clearly our family’s lucky number, here are my top 6 ways to do so. 

1. Find a provider to do everything in one place. 

When I finally get to sit down to investigate cars online, I really don’t want to be organising a loan from one company, trying to organise visits to physical used car places across our surrounding suburbs, and having to coordinate all aspects from different vendors. 

Cut out all the middlemen I say, and streamline. How else do you think we coordinate 6 kids under one roof? Streamline everything.

You want to shop from one website that can tick all your boxes: for me, it's getting a car loan at the same place that I buy my car, and having them deliver it, just like anything else I'd buy online. 

I barely have the time to spend hours researching, inspecting and buying a car, let alone speak to what feels like 23 people about it.

So in my experience, finding a place that does it all (and does it well) is the ultimate time-saver and stress-reliever. 

2. Knuckle down on specifics.

You can’t do enough research, really. Put that search bar to good use and check off all your specifics: how many seats, how much fuel consumption and how many kilometres it’s already collected.  

I'm kind of like that friend who can track someone down on Facebook in 10 minutes except with cars and details: I want to know EXACTLY what I'm getting.

When I search for used cars, I want to compare prices, get a really close look at the interior and exterior photos, and find several car options to cross-compare all at the same time. 

My non-negotiables right now are that I want low kilometres, 8 seats, boot space for days with the back row up, and preferably just the one previous owner. 

So I'm not asking for much really... right?

Get as specific as you can, after all, you know exactly how you use your car. 

 

3. Shop with who you trust.

We work super hard; I myself have 2 jobs and my husband works 6 days a week. When it comes time to buy a car for our family that decision doesn’t come lightly. 

I want to know that our gorgeous kids are getting into a safe car and one we plan on keeping for a long time. I want to know that our hard-earned money is going into a car that is not only going to last but that I trust.

So how do you know if it’s a trusted app or website? Take a look at online reviews, dive into how previous users have experienced their service, and if you can, the frequency of turned-over stock. 

 

4. Safety, safety, safety. Eyeball those checks. 

Now, this is a non-negotiable for me. I wouldn’t buy any used car that had not been safety tested.

Most days, all 8 of us in the family are in the car at least once per day, so safety is of the utmost importance when every row, every seat and every strap is used on a daily basis; our cars really get their workout!

I would only ever shop with places that comply with doing a mulit-point check. Now you’ll see this a lot online but what exactly does it mean? 

This process involves highly skilled technicians that check and test every aspect of the used car. They ensure that it meets roadworthy checks, including the interior, exterior and engine. 

5. Check that fine print (the returns policy and warranty). 

There'll always be hiccups in life we just didn't see coming. So when shopping for a used car, knowing there's a decent returns policy in place is so important. 

You could have done everything right, and the car checked all your boxes, and still end up with something not quite right for your lifestyle or family's needs when you're actually using it. 

I love to get my family mechanic to double-check every used car we buy, and this gives us the chance to do just that. 

Also, I’m not saying my kids break things. But I’m also not saying that a healthy warranty period doesn't go astray, just in case.

(To be frank, I don’t want anything less than 6 months warranty even on a slow cooker! So on a car? Imperative.)

 

6. Sort finance before browsing.

You want to know what you're working with. Work out your monthly budget and what you can afford to spend. It’s good to go into buying your used car knowing how much you've got to play with, before (mentally or actually) spending it.

Buying a car is stressful enough, you’ve just done all the hard work finding the right car for your family. So, you want to be equipped with a realistic budget from the start. 

And that’s it! You’ve done it. 

Hopefully, now you can tick all the boxes, and be several steps closer to getting your 4-wheeled beauty delivered right to your door.

Our last used car we bought has lasted us almost 10 years, and we have gotten our use out of it, tenfold! In my opinion, used car shopping online is the only way to go. 

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Article sourced from https://ultimateusedcars.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/6-tips-that-actually-help-if-youre-buying-a-car-online/