Before buying a used car from either a dealer or private seller, make sure that it has insurance coverage before driving it away. Most insurers allow a grace period when adding additional vehicles to existing policies.
Some cars cost more than others to insure; here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting the best price and coverage for your used car.
Check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
A Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, serves as a unique identifier of each car. Composed of 17 characters including numbers and capital letters, its combination can provide plenty of details on its owner. A VIN allows tracking recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage history of individual vehicles.
An VIN check is an easy and efficient way to gather all of the relevant information prior to buying a used car. This can help determine its value, whether or not it was involved in an accident, and even whether or not it has been declared salvaged vehicle. Using this knowledge can also assist with selecting car insurance policies; most places require drivers have collision and comprehensive coverage in place before driving any car legally; so having an accurate picture of its history before making your purchase decision.
The initial few digits of a VIN identify its country of origin, followed by six digits that identify vehicle manufacturer, model year and serial number identifying an individual car from others produced at its factory.
To locate the appropriate VIN, it’s crucial to search in multiple places. VINs don’t always appear in one specific spot – for instance they could be displayed on either the driver side door jamb or windshield of your car, engine bay of a semi truck, dashboard plate or stamped into metal plate attached to dashboard.
Utilize the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN lookup tool for any used car you are considering purchasing, as well as to check it with a dealership before buying to ensure all details are accounted for. It’s wise to get all information as soon as possible, since collision and comprehensive coverage must be in place before leaving a lot or private seller – your lender may even require this in order to finance it! With such expensive policies on used cars it may pay to shop around for insurance rates tailored specifically for these models.
Check the Vehicle History Report (VHR)
As VINs serve as an initial blueprint of vehicle history, it’s wise to do further investigation when buying used cars from private sellers or without direct inspection capabilities. Vehicle History Reports (VHRs) can reveal repair history as well as past damage. They’re especially handy for making sure their car meets your standards!
The Vehicle History Report (VHR) offers an abundance of data regarding accident reports, service history and title brands that will assist in making an informed decision regarding purchasing and fitting into your budget. Furthermore, this report can offer important insight into a dealership and their business practices; you might discover they’ve sold vehicles with undisclosed damage in the past or that their honesty could lead to financial trouble in the future.
Apart from accident reports, Vehicle History Reports can provide key details about a car’s maintenance records, open recalls and safety inspections. They also show whether or not it was ever rented out as part of a fleet; this may impact whether or not you decide to buy. Although VHR won’t show the wear and tear issues with your prospective purchase vehicle – always consult an independent inspector before finalizing it as sale!
Most used cars only require state-mandated minimum coverage requirements, including bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. If financing or leasing the vehicle, however, a lender or lessor may insist on comprehensive and collision policies to cover losses up to its current market value; when making this decision it’s essential to factor both cost and age into consideration.
If you already have an existing policy, adding your new car should be seamless; simply inform your insurer of this so they can make necessary changes to accommodate it. Without such coverage in place, driving a used car without insurance can often be illegal.
Check the Car’s Mileage
When shopping for used cars, mileage is often an important determining factor of their value. Newer cars with lower mileage often command a higher resale value.
Locating the mileage on a vehicle can help you assess its asking price fairly and identify any possible issues that should be addressed with it. Furthermore, knowing how often a car has been driven gives an accurate reflection of its condition.
There are various methods available for verifying a car’s mileage. One such strategy is running a vehicle history report that includes its odometer readings; this can help detect any possible odometer rollback, whereby either a dealer or private seller modifies the odometer to show less miles traveled than it actually has traveled.
An inaccurate odometer can be a serious liability in terms of both vehicle resale value and insurance costs, making a used car harder to sell or insure. When shopping for used vehicles it’s crucial that odometer readings match up with similar cars of similar age range as well as digital or mechanical types – digital ones being harder for thieves to tamper with since they are less exposed to sunlight than mechanical models.
Other things to check are the condition and signs of wear on the vehicle, including sunken seats that appear low mileage but have signs of wear indicating otherwise, which could indicate that an odometer has been changed.
When purchasing a used vehicle, comprehensive car insurance coverage is always advisable. However, it’s essential to remember that if it has very low mileage and has been properly maintained it may not justify full coverage; typically only high-value vehicles need this extra coverage. If in doubt about whether comprehensive coverage is required it would be wise to consult an auto insurance expert prior to making any purchases.
Check the Car’s Condition
People tend to associate “used cars” with older, battered models with plenty of cosmetic damage and miles on them, while some high-end luxury models also make an appearance on the secondhand market. Whatever kind of vehicle you’re interested in purchasing, make sure your insurance company provides adequate protection – most states require liability coverage which pays for damage done to other drivers by yourself or yourself, while personal injury protection or medical payments coverage covers costs if an accident isn’t your responsibility.
When inspecting a used car, pay special attention to both its body and interior conditions. Expect scratches and dents in most used cars, but also keep an eye out for blistered paint or rust spots. Open and close all doors including trunk and hood to check for loose or broken hinges as well as touch rubber hoses and belts to test firmness; they should not feel rock-hard or cracked.
Make sure that the engine is functioning normally by inspecting for signs of oil leakage or mechanical problems, taking special care with testing technology and safety features such as backup camera, radio, infotainment system and navigation system as well as air conditioning/heating features. Lastly, verify whether air conditioning/heating works as promised!
Condition plays a huge role in determining a used car’s value; an automobile in good condition could fetch $10,360 while one that’s been neglected could only fetch $12,710.
Before purchasing a used car, it is advisable to seek advice from a professional mechanic. They will give an estimation of its value and advise whether it would be worthwhile buying it outright if paying cash. In addition, take your time comparing quotes from multiple insurers before making your final decision; once purchased make sure it’s added immediately so there are no gaps in coverage.
