We live in an economy where the high cost of living makes it difficult for many of us to truly live the life, we envisioned for ourselves, because of this many people turn to alternative measures to live a near comfortable life.
One of these alternatives is often found in the purchasing of pre-owned or secondhand vehicles. While many people would assume that the above-mentioned are exactly the same thing. It turns out that they are not.
According to the reputable automotive company Subaru South Africa, there are distinct differences that separate a second-hand vehicle from a pre-owned one.
“A certified pre-owned (CPO) car is a used vehicle that has undergone a thorough inspection and certification process by the manufacturer or an authorised dealership. On the other hand, a regular second-hand car, often referred to as a used car, is a vehicle that has been previously owned and driven,” explains the above-mentioned source.
While a certified pre-owned vehicle may assure you of reliability and warranty coverage and a well-inspected vehicle, it does come at a higher cost than those that are purchased from a private sale.
However, it is often because of the cheaper prices of second-hand vehicles that some drivers opt for this as their preference.
If this is the case, we have a few useful tips on what you should look out for before purchasing your second-hand car.
These are some things to consider as highlighted by Autotrader:
Do your homework
Find out as much as you can about the car. This includes finding out how old the car is, service history, financed or not, and whether the car has been in an accident and its current condition. Once all of these have been compiled you can compare the feedback to the way the car looks when going to view.
VIN and engine number
To check whether or not the vehicle has been stolen, it is best to write or take a picture of the VIN and engine number and take it to the police station to perform a clearance check. This will help you know if the car has been stolen or not. These details should also be the match with the vehicle registration.
Road worthy
Take the prospective vehicle for roadworthy testing. This will determine whether or not the car is eligible to drive on the roads.
Also see: Explore the benefits of hybrid cars
