Why trade in?

If you are looking to get rid of your old vehicle and buy a new one, you should definitely consider trading your vehicle in rather than conducting a private sale and buying a new vehicle independently.

A trade in is much more convenient than a private sale as companies that conduct trade ins really want your business. Vehicle dealerships would rather you went through them and did a trade in and bought your new car from them and so they make the process as easy as possible for their customers.

What is the alternative?

You could of course, sell your vehicle in a private sale. It would probably fetch you a higher price than trading it in, but you would have all the inconvenience of conducting the sale yourself. You would have to take the time to advertise, find out the value of the car and find a reliable buyer.

You could then be responsible for any problems with the vehicle after the buyer has purchased it. It would take a longer time than trading the vehicle in would as you would have to go through the process of selling it and the process of finding and buying a new car.

How the trade-in process works

The process is generally quick and easy and can be done in one day. The company will generally offer a price for your trade in and you can either accept their offer or bargain with them for a better offer. The price the dealership will decide to pay is based on the following:

• The condition of the vehicle
• The age of the vehicle
• Any problems with the vehicle
• If the vehicle still has any warrantees or service plans intact

Once you have worked out a deal with a dealership and chosen your new vehicle, you can conduct the sale very quickly and with no fuss. You will not be liable for any problems with the vehicle once you have given it up which should provide you with some reassurance. The price that the dealership offers you will be deducted from the cost of your new vehicle and you will therefore pay a reduced amount for your next car.

The dealership will obviously charge a higher price for the vehicle than they offered you to cover the time and effort that they will put into the vehicle. They will generally have handled the negotiation, the legal negotiations, working out a new price, finding the new buyer, handling the deal with your new vehicle and sorting out the refurbishments, any repairs, cleaning and maintenance. The car would be worth more to the second buyer because of all the workings the dealership put into it.

Getting the highest possible price for your trade in

Knowing how to get the highest price possible when trading in your car will definitely help you save money on your new vehicle. The following tips will help you to ensure that you get the highest possible price for your vehicle when you trade it in.

• Clean your vehicle thoroughly or have it professionally cleaned inside and out.
• Make sure there are no bad scratches on your car, if there are, get them fixed.
• Fix any minor repairs to your vehicle.
• Always go through a reputable, well-known dealer who you can trust to be honest and reliable in your dealings. You do not want to have to worry about getting a low price or being misled by a dishonest dealer. Find a dealership with a large base of happy and satisfied customers. Look for good references and ask around of your family and friends for advice on which dealership is a good one to go with.
• Always get a second opinion on what your car is worth. Find out from several dealerships what they would offer you and perhaps try to work out what your car is worth yourself.
• Make sure you bargain with the offer your dealer has given you. Stand strong and do not back down.

How to Get the Highest Price Possible when Trading in your Car is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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It is likely that your car will have been scratched several times after the first few years or even months of owning it. Key scratches from trying to unlock your door, marks from other car doors opening against yours, scratches from you or others carrying something sharp too close to your car and from driving into poles, walls and other cars are common.

Some scratches can be fixed with a bit of polish and hard work, while others might need re-spraying. It is important not to leave damage unchecked, especially if it is deep, as the metal underneath could be exposed to the air and might rust. Rust damage is much harder to repair than any initial scratches.

The following video may help some of you to repair the damage to your vehicle…

Video: Removing Scratches from Car with Fix it! Pro:

Understanding your scratch

Car manufacturers, since 1990, have been using a two stage painting system on vehicles. There are several different layers, and starting at the bottom, these are: the metal or plastic of the car, then the primer layer, then the paint colour layer and finally the top clear coat for gloss and shine and to protect the paint. The top clear coat is made from a very durable solution and is made to last. It also makes it easy to bring your car to a high shine.

Scratches that are no deeper than the clear coat often show up a white colour which makes them stand out if the car is any other colour. Similar to a scratch on a glass, light reflects of the scratch on the clear coat also making it easy to spot. Luckily, most scratches fall into this category. If yours is in this category, removing it will be simple. It will just require some polish and a little knowledge of the right technique.

Hopefully your vehicle isn’t scratched quite this bad:

How deep is your scratch?

The following is a simple way to work out how deep your scratch is and whether you can fix it yourself or whether you will have to take it to a professional.

• Step one

Clean the area with a chamois or soft cloth and water.

• Step two

Run a clean finger across the scratch. What do you feel?

a.)    If you feel nothing, the scratch is no deeper than the top clear coat and will be easily removed.

b.)    If you feel a slight line, it is likely that the scratch is borderline and should also be completely removed.

c.)     If you can feel the gauge very easily, the scratch will require re-painting or re-spraying.

Getting to work

For any of the above three scratches, you could take your car to a professional where fixing scratches on cars is done daily and will be done well. Another way to do it is to try to fix the minor scratches yourself. There are many companies offering home car scratch kits.

If the scratch is really minimal, you could always get to work with a chamois and some car polish to buff it away. If that doesn’t work, the following are the steps to take to fix a minor scratch. You will, of course, need the professional products.

• Clean the area properly.
• Remove the scratch with polish.
• Glaze the area to enhance the paint beneath.
• Seal the glazed paint with a polymer paint sealer.

For fixing a borderline scratch yourself, you will need to wet sand the area. This is slightly more tricky and you will need very gentle wet sanding material.

• Clean the area properly.
• Wet sand the area gently.
• Polish the area.
• Glaze the paint underneath.
• Seal the area with a polymer paint sealer.

You can also try to fix a deeper scratch at home. The trick to doing this is to apply very small amounts of paint at a time.

• Clean the area properly.
• Polish the area.
• Apply touch up paint.
• Level the paint with wet sanding.
• Polish again.
• Glaze the area.
• Seal the area with a polymer paint sealer.

Fixing Scratches on Cars is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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Entrepreneurship in the Automotive Industry

Many people around the world are looking to make money through entrepreneurship. Owning your own business and being in control of your own income, working hours and working life is a wonderful way to live your life, if you are successful. You will not need to worry about keeping track of the leave that is due to you, sticking to your lunch hour or the stress of asking your boss if you can leave early to make your child’s school play. If you are able to start your own successful business, you are on the fast track to a good income and the freedom to live your life your way.

However, many people run side businesses or do freelance work while they work full time jobs. The extra money is always helpful and a small side business could grow into something that you could do full time. Buying repossessed cars from auctions at low prices and then selling them on privately is one such way to bring in money. If you have the time and the ability to work hard, this could grow into a second hand dealership.

Repossessed cars at auctions

Financial service providers like banks who offer car loans will often repossess vehicles if the clients have not paid their monthly payments or if they have not paid enough. The repossed vehicles are then auctioned off so that the financial service provider can make their money back. Often, repossessed vehicles are still quite new and might have their service plans or rust warranties still in place. This would save the buyer money. Buying at an auction means that the potential buyers decide what the car is worth.

To sum, the benefits of buying a repossessed car at an auction include:

• Repossessed cars are often still new looking and have low mileage.
• Repossessed cars might still have their service plan intact saving the buyer money.
• Repossessed cars might still have rust and other warranties, which would also save the buyer money.
• Buying at an auction means that the potential buyers decide the price and saves them from sellers pushing up the price beyond the car’s worth.

Choosing a repossessed car

Choosing a repossessed car can be difficult and stressful, especially if you are not a mechanic or car expert. Take note of the following tips to ensure that you make the right decision when looking for repossessions.

• Look for reputable auction houses that have been around for a while and have a history of good service, many happy clients and honest staff.
• Make sure you do your research on cars in general. Know what obvious problems to look out for.
• If you know someone who is an expert on cars, ask them to accompany you to the auction. Get them to check the cars for problems and follow their advice on which cars to bid for.
• Have a look at the vehicle market at the moment. What cars are most popular? Which cars would be easiest to sell on?
• Make sure you know what you are looking for before you go to the auction. Some auctions allow you to check out the cars beforehand so that you can make a decision.
• Decide what your budget is and make sure you stick to it. You do not want to get carried away and spend more than you can afford.

Selling the car on

Once you have your repossessed car, you will need to advertise it. Advertise your cars online on Gumtree and Junkmail as well as print classifieds. Make sure your advertisement is as professional as possible. Check your spelling and grammar, make sure you give ALL the necessary information and add several well taken photographs of the car in good light once it has been cleaned.

TIP: Car Pictures Tell a Thousand Words

Check out the informative video below on how to take a proffessional looking photo of your vehicle/s for advertising purposes.

Video: Take Car Pictures to Help you Sell your Vehicle Quicker:

Buy Repo Cars at Auctions and Resell them Privately is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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Bulldozers, earthmovers, excavation machines, loaders, cranes, graders, forklifts, jackhammers and more. Construction equipment and vehicles are essential for any construction company. The machinery and vehicles should be durable and able to take a lot of strain. If your company is involved in any sort of construction work from road construction to quarry work to drilling and compaction, you will need machinery and vehicles.

Buying new may prove very expensive. However, due to the durability and strength of construction equipment and vehicles, you could buy second hand and still find yourself with a strong piece of machinery that will handle heavy work for years to come. The price differences will be significant and you could save yourself and your business quite a lot of money.

Where to look

If you are searching for a piece of machinery or a particular vehicle, try these avenues for second hand options.

• Online

As with everything these days, there are a myriad of advertisements online for used construction machinery and vehicles. You can find them in classifieds and on company websites. The downside, however, is finding a seller that you can trust.

• Construction companies

Another option is to contact construction companies to find out if they are trying to get rid of old equipment and vehicles. If you are buying directly from the previous owner, costs might be even lower. Many larger companies have a budget for new machinery and vehicles every few years and so might have discarded equipment and vehicles that are not very old and still in good condition and working order.

Choosing your vehicle or machinery carefully

As with any second hand purchase, one must always be careful of dishonesty on the part of the seller. You do not want to be stuck with a piece of equipment with serious problems after paying a good price for it. Follow these tips to reduce your chances of making a bad buy.

1. If you are involved in the construction trade, it is likely that you know something about the machinery and vehicles used. Brush up on the details of the specific equipment or vehicle you are looking for to ensure that you can spot a problem immediately.
2. If you have no knowledge of a certain piece of material, take someone with more expertise with you. Ask them to carefully check out the equipment or vehicle and help you make your decision.
3. Try to find a reputable dealer by researching for complaints and asking around of others in the trade.
4. Choose a good brand. It is a good idea to do some research on the brands of construction vehicles and machinery that are known to be good quality. Look for second hand pieces of the best quality brands you know of.

Once you have your equipment or machinery, make sure you give it a thorough service and cleaning to ensure that you can pick up any problems quickly and have them sorted out immediately. Construction work can be very dangerous and using machinery and equipment that works as it should, and keeping it well maintained, might save injuries and even deaths in the future.

Also always make sure that those using the equipment or operating the vehicle wear their protective clothing and safety equipment at all time of operation. Avoiding negative incidents can be as easy as sticking to operational health and safety guidelines.

Looking at used construction vehicle and machinery for sale might save you money, but make sure to spend the time choosing correctly, looking after your vehicles and equipment and ensuring the safety and well being of your staff. In the long run, your assets ARE your business and treating them with care can only benefit you and your business.

Used Construction Vehicles and Machinery for sale is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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One such method of getting car insurance on the Internet is to head over to an aggregator based website such as hippo.co.za. They are partnered with some of the most respected providers in the country and just by filling in a few personal details and vehicle details on the simple online form you can be sent several competitive vehicle cover quotations to compare. This is really fast! Having to enquire at these companies manually can take hours even by phone and you will need to go through the process of answering all the same questions and providing all the same personal and vehicle details time and time again, not to mention being put on hold all the time!

This is changing the way we can access quotes and speeding up the process of being able to compare and choose a provider that suits our budget and needs.

Of course, not everyone has online access at the moment and many that do are still using slow dial-up connections in which case the process is not as quick but as time goes by more and more people will be switching to ADSL connections and be able to apply for cover a lot quicker.

One thing that needs to be mentioned here is the fact that some companies are acting a little scrupulous when it comes to getting quotes online. We have known of many cases where an insurer will return a quote for a certain amount of money per month as a premium and when contact is made between the company and the client excuses are made and the premium is suddenly increased! Be careful with that kind of situation when getting car insurance quotes and information on the Internet.

Vehicle Insurance Types in SA

There are many vehicle insurance types in SA as in other countries. South Africa is a country with diverse terrains and the opportunity to use more than one type of vehicle. If you live inland you may need a fancy car, with good security. If you live on the coast you may want to invest in a boat and insure that. If you love the feel of fresh air on your face and through your hair then you may want to buy a motorcycle to drive along the beautiful coastlines or through the Karoo. In all cases it is worth taking all of your special comforts with you and so you may need to insure your caravan. Cover varies from vehicle to vehicle and depending on your own personal preference.

Fully comprehensive cover is one of the most expensive vehicle insurance types in SA but it is the one that provides the best chances for you as the owner. It covers you in all events of accident and sometimes accidental damage (e.g. hail or flood etc). In addition, it covers you whether you cause the accident or someone else does. This is useful because there are many drivers in SA who drive very dangerously and some roads are in a poor condition. Finally it provides you with fire and theft coverage. This means that if your vehicle is stolen, you will be able to claim the money back, or at least a portion of it, from the insurance.

The other alternative is third party insurance. This provides coverage in cases where your vehicle is involved in an accident with another person and their car or boat or motorcycle or caravan is damaged. The insurance company will ensure that that person receives money for the damages so that they can restore their vehicle. Third party insurance is normally cheaper than fully comprehensive cover for obvious reasons.

If you need more information there are a number of insurance companies in South Africa with websites that will help you to find out about vehicle insurance types in SA.

Getting Car Insurance on the Internet is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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Is this the future of our daily transport? Although we recognise that the motives behind having a car that drives itself are excellent, we can’t help but think that this kind of technology still has a long way to go. Many road traffic accidents are caused by motorists jumping traffic lights in which case drivers often rely on awareness and razor sharp reactions to possibly avoid a collision.

More Points to Consider with Self Driving Car Technology:

• Traffic lights that are faulty or broken
• Overtaking other vehicles
• Traffic control Police

Another question is do we yet have enough reliable technology? Computers crash and get hacked all the time. How dangerous it could be if the system had to be rebooted at high speed on a major highway!

But these are just a few initial thoughts that come to mind and we know that a huge company like Google would be testing and testing and developing and testing etc for a very long time before they ever got to the point of release and started to market and sell a car that drives itself.

Here’s a quote from the official Google Blog:

Our automated cars use video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to “see” other traffic, as well as detailed maps (which we collect using manually driven vehicles) to navigate the road ahead. This is all made possible by Google’s data centers, which can process the enormous amounts of information gathered by our cars when mapping their terrain

Check out the following videos for more information on the incentive behind the idea of the Google driverless car and also a short clip on what it feels like to be inside this futuristic vehicle.

Video: Sebastian Thrun on the Google Driverless Car

Video: A Quick Ride in Google’s Self Driving Car

As for us, we love to drive our own precious vehicles. Trusting a machine to do the work and take all the pleasure out of being in control of a car would just scare us to bits and ruin all the fun!

Google Driverless Car, our Future Transport? is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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Why buy on auction?

Many of the vehicles sold on auction have been repossessed by banks and other lending institutions. Cars are repossessed when the previous owner defaults on payments or violates the terms and condition of the car finance loan. These cars often sell for very good prices, as the bank is not concerned with making a profit; rather, they want to sell the car off as quickly as possible to make up for any losses incurred. This means that you are essentially buying a car that has already been paid for in portion.

How do I know I am buying a reliable car?

Truth being told, you don’t actually know if you are buying a reliable car on auction as you usually don’t have the opportunity of test-driving the car before bidding for it and buying on auction. However, you can assume you are buying a reliable car if you have done through research on the vehicle beforehand. Before the auction you need to get a list of the vehicles being sold to decide which car or cars you are interested in. Once a vehicle catches your eye, you need to compare the asking price with the market price of similar vehicles. If the car is selling for a lot less on auction, you know that you are getting a good deal.

When you attend an auction to buy a vehicle, get there early so that you can fully inspect and examine the car you intend on buying. If cars are not your thing, bring along a mechanic or someone who is very knowledgeable about what you should look for under the hood of the car. Also check the cars interior and exterior for any damage or flaws which decrease the value of the vehicle and may not make it worth your while to purchase.

If you are looking for a reliable car, the newer the car the better. Because many of the vehicles sold on auction are cars that have been repossessed, many of the cars can be on the newer side as the owners are still paying them off. If you need financing for your purchase, the major banks usually have stand at the auction venue to assist you with on site financing for your purchase.

Where were vehicles auctions held in 2011?

Most of the auction venues used in 2011 are still valid in 2012.

• Alberton: Auctions every Monday at 11am through Imperial Auto Auctions
• Midrand: Autoworld Car Auctioneers host an auction every Tuesday at 11am.
• Boksburg: Absa repossession auctions held regularly
• Sandton: Burchmore’s auctions every Saturday and Thursday
• Midrand: Auctions hosted by Aucor every Saturday

For further information about vehicle auctions and when and where they will be happening, contact any of the major vehicle auctioning companies. If you are looking for repossessed vehicles, you can also contact the major banks (First National Bank, Absa, Nedbank and Standard Bank) directly to ask what vehicles they have available and when they will be sold.

Auctioneers sold many reliable cars for sale at 2011 vehicle auctions, so 2012 is your turn to give auctions a try if you haven’t already. Remember that you need to register to bid before the auction, and usually make a refundable deposit of R5000 with a bank guaranteed cheque or credit card. Once you are at the auction, remember your budget and keep your head about you, but also have fun in the exciting auction atmosphere!
 
The following video offers some tips on how to buy a second hand car at a public auction and although it is filmed in the USA, it is still pretty relevant and could still provide some of you with some useful advice.
 

Video: Buying a Car from a Public Auto Auction:

Reliable Cars For Sale at 2012 Vehicle Auctions is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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These days, vehicle tracking systems often use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to find the location of the vehicle. This information can be viewed on specialized software or on electronic maps on the internet.

Why use a vehicle tracking system?

Knowing where your vehicle is located at any given time is not only a useful safeguard in case of car theft.  Public transit authorities in large urban areas may also make use of vehicle tracking systems to manage their fleet, time schedules, and be able to answer customer questions about vehicle whereabouts. Logistics companies can also make use of vehicle tracking systems to ensure that their deliveries are being conducted on time and via the correct routes.

In the hospitality industry, companies have caught onto vehicle tracking systems for unconventional uses. For example, a 5-star hotel in Singapore installed vehicle tracking systems to ensure that their VIPs can be welcomed when they arrive at the hotel in their limousines. Car rental companies and food delivery services can also make use of vehicle tracking services to manage their business.

Essentially, a vehicle tracking system is a system of surveillance and is a useful way of managing your vehicle or fleet of vehicles.

Check out the video below on realtime GPS vehicle tracking to get a clearer understanding on how these things work:

GPS Vehicle Tracking Video

What types of vehicle tracking are available?

There are several types of vehicle tracking systems in existence, classified wither as “active” or “passive”. The passive vehicle tracking devices store speed, GPS location and heading, as well as other triggers such as doors opening and closing and keys locking and unlocking the vehicle. This data can be retrieved once the vehicle has returned to a certain point. The data is downloaded to a computer and is evaluated. Passive tracking systems can also include devices that automatically download and transfer data to a computer through a wireless connection.

The active vehicle tracking systems collect the same information (speed, GPS location and heading etc.) but these devices transmit the data in real-time to a data centre or computer for evaluation. This is done via satellite or cellular networks.

Vehicle tracking systems these days combine both passive an active tracking systems. If a cellular network is available the data will be transmitted to a server (active); but if a cellular network is unavailable, the data will be stored in the internal memory of the data (passive). This stored data will be transmitted later when a network becomes available once again.

In the past a vehicle tracking system was installed into a vehicle as a small box that ran on a battery or was powered by the vehicle. When it comes to detailed tracking purposes, this method is still largely in use. These days, however, many companies are choosing to harness cellphone technologies to provide tracking of the multiple entities (the vehicles as well as the salesperson). These cell phone network systems can also track calls and texts made, providing an even wider safety net that is transmitted through real-time data.

A GPS tracking system commonly consists of a GPS tracking device that fits into the vehicle and captures data at regular intervals, a GPS tracking server, and a user interface. The GPS tracking device picks up a wide variety of data, including not only location, but fuel amount, altitude, engine temperature, reverse geocoding, tire pressure, ignition turning on and off, battery status, emergency button status and a host of other information. The tracking server is responsible for receiving data from the unit, storing this data securely and serving it to the user on demand. The user interface determines how a user will be able to view vehicle data and access information.

Some well-known South African vehicle tracking companies are Altech Netstar and Ctrack.

Vehicle Tracking Systems is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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Auto Freeway magazine and other publications are produced by Auto Trader, showcasing a range of used vehicles selling in your area. There are three different Auto Freeway magazines distributed in three regions – Cape Town, Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng. The magazines are published on a weekly basis and all are provided free of charge.

The Autotraders Cape Town Auto Freeway magazine is available from a number of outlets in the region, such as most places where newspapers are found. When you are looking for a used car, simply get hold of the magazine and begin your hunt.

Hints and tips before you buy a used car

• Budget, baby: If you have an idea of what kind of vehicle you would like, you need to first establish how much you can afford to spend on your used car. It is also worth contacting a number of vehicle finance providers to see who can provide you with the best finance option and to see if you qualify for vehicle finance. Set a strict budget and don’t be tempted into buying a car that is more expensive than you can afford.
• Do your research: The only way you will know if you are looking at a good deal in the Autotraders Cape Town Auto Freeway magazines to compare similar cars and their prices. Factors to consider include the make and model, as well as the car’s mileage, service history, fuel economy, its depreciation value and other such criteria. If you know what the car you are looking at is worth you will be able to make educated negotiations and get an accurate price for your car.
• Limit the list: Don’t make too long a shopping list of cars and don’t make too many circles in your Auto Freeway magazine. Having too many choices will mean too many cars to follow up on, costing you both time and money. Rather choose a few of the best and chase them up before moving on to the rest.
• Expect to inspect: If you don’t know much about cars yourself, get hold of someone who does. Before you buy a car it is imperative to check it out to discover any faults or flaws. If you discover any faults you can then use them as leverage to lower the price of the car. It is also important to test drive the vehicle to ensure that you feel comfortable behind the wheel. In older vehicles, excessive exhaust fumes are bad news, and keep an ear out for unwanted rattles and shakes and you drive.
• Double-check the docs: Especially if you are buying form a private individual you need to check that the registration documents for the correct name of the seller and their correct address. Check the car’s service history carefully and compare the vehicle’s actual mileage with the roadworthy certificates and receipts.
• Niggle and negotiate: Negotiating a deal can save you a lot of money. You need to come into a negotiation with knowledge about what you should be paying for the vehicle as well as a cool head. Don’t feel pressured into buying the vehicle; just because you are looking it doesn’t mean you are buying.
• Find your finance: Find the best option to finance your vehicle as there are a range of options out there. Always a receipt that states that the vehicle does not have any outstanding money owed. Remember to also sign the Change Of Ownership document, of which you keep half and the other half goes to the seller.

Contact Autotraders Cape Town Auto Freeway magazine

To contact the team at the Auto Freeway Magazine in Cape Town, you can call them on 021 9149190 or email on atcpt@autotrader.co.za. You can find the Auto Traders and Auto Freeway website on http://www.autotrader.co.za and the office address is Unit 5 West Wing Terraces, Old Oak Office Park, Old Oak Road, Bellville, South Africa.

Autotraders Cape Town Auto Freeway Magazine is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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• New or used?

Used cars are often a more affordable option for car buyers. Buying a new car does buy you security, as the car won’t have any hidden glitches, but it also buys you a higher price tag when you could find a used vehicle of almost equal quality at a fraction of the price. If you do decide to buy a used model however, do your research into the service history of the car and also find out whether it has been in any accidents.

Beware of very high mileages and make sure that the car won’t give you more trouble than what you paid for it. Remember, another benefit of buying a new car is that newer cars have better technologies and can often be more fuel efficient and cost effective in the long run.

• Budget and negotiate

One of the factors that may help you to decide whether to buy a new or used car is your budget. If you have the cash to splash, buying a new car means buying a car in the best possible condition. Once you have decided how much you can afford to spend and you know what kind of vehicle you want, it’s time to start looking at dealerships and private sales.

Before you even consider buying anything, however, it is important to do your research to find out what you should be paying for the car you want – look at the prices on similar makes and models to what you are looking for so that you will know if you are being cheated out of your hard earned cash. Private sales may be shooting too high, and car dealers may try to intimidate or talk you into buying a car for more than it’s worth. If you think this is the case, don’t be afraid to negotiate your way into a better deal.

• Test and inspect

Whether your vehicle in new or used, it is imperative that you test drive it to make sure that there are no unwelcome shakes, rattles and rolls. Even if your car is new, it is important that test drive it to see that you feel comfortable behind the wheel. All cars should be inspected, regardless of whether you bought it from a private owner or a dealership.

Inspecting the car from top to tow bar is especially important for used vehicles. If you don’t know much about cars, bring along someone who does to check for any wear or damage that will give your problems or cost you money in the future.

Having said that, if you are looking to buy a repossessed car from an auction, you will not be permitted to take the vehicle for a test drive.

• Be scam savvy

Not all dealers are born honest and it can be easy to hide certain imperfections and problems that can reveal themselves later. Car dealer fraud is a common occurrence, and some dealers will even try to sell newer used cars as new cars. When buying a car, use an accredited dealer to prevent fraudulent encounters. If you are buying a used car, make sure that you get a vehicle history report to find out about replacements and repairs of different car parts. You can also ask the owner or dealer about any repairs.

• Safety first

Cars are one of the most dangerous modes of transportation, so safety is one of the most important criteria when choosing a car. This can not only save your own life, but the lives of your passengers and other drivers. Different cars have various safety features, ranging from Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS), to Cargo Barriers, Front and Rear Airbags and other technologies that may help reduce your risk of serious accidents and car crashes.

Armed with this information, you can enjoy the process of buying a new or used car that you can drive with pride.

5 Important Points to Consider when Purchasing a Vehicle is an original post from: Used Cars For Africa

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