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The Five Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make

By Bob Ford

Something happens to many people when they get serious about buying a particular used car. The excitement of a new car - well, “new” to them, the prospect of getting a really good deal, and the buying process itself tends to clog the synapses and cause people to neglect, forget, ignore - take your pick - the basic precautions that one should take before buying a used car.

What follows are the five mistakes far too many buyers make when buying a used . By knowing what they are, you can avoid making them yourself.

#1 Buyers don’t get the facts on a specific used car before they buy.

Before you get serious about any one car, it's important to get the facts concerning:

Reliability and Repair Record

Consumer Reports offers a section in their Buying Guide entitled "Frequency of Repair Records. In it you'll get an excellent picture of the repair records of the vast majority of recent model used cars.

If the Car Been Subjected to a Recall

Consumer Guide - Auto Series, publishes a Used Car Rating Guide in which they offer a general assessment of individual used cars, technical data, price ranges and a detailed description of the recall history.

Owner Satisfaction with the Car

In addition to speaking directly with friends who have owned the car you're considering, you might also want to turn again to Consumer Reports. They offer charts showing how their subscribers rated their satisfaction with recent model cars.

#2. Buyers fall in fall in love with the car in front of seller.

Far too many consumers fall in love with a particular car and let their desire to own that car cloud their better judgment. Once a car seller - especially a professional - knows a person is hooked on a car, that person has all but abandoned the opportunity to negotiate a good deal.

#3 Buyers fail to give the car a “full” inspection.

Most used car buyers don't take the time or make the effort to thoroughly check out the car. This includes having it inspected by a third party, independent mechanic. Neglecting this step often results in costly repair bills or worse, owning a car that is not worth fixing. As part of the inspection process, it pays to order a CARFAX report on the car you’re considering.

#4 Buyers don’t take the time to understand their Used Car Warranties

If a franchise dealer offers a warranty and the warranty actually covers a substantial number of items, your risk is usually moderate to low. You will want to understand the warranty in terms of what's covered and for how long. With few exceptions, you don't want to trust the current condition of the car to the future protection of the sellers’s warranty unless the car is still under the original factory warranty.

#5. Buyers sign the check before checking everything.

Before you sit down to complete the paperwork, take a walk around the car. Check to see if there any new dents or dings. Open the hood and check to be sure that there are no oil leaks that might have developed. If repairs or maintenance were to be performed, ask for proof that it was done as agreed. Then take the car out for one last test drive

Before you Sign:

1. Read everything . . . twice!
2. Be sure that anything you sign has all the blanks filled in.
3. Be sure that the wording on any agreement, bill of sale and/or warranty is specific, clear and exact in its meaning.
4. An Odometer Mileage Statement must be provided stating that, to the best of the seller's knowledge, the odometer has not been tampered with. The odometer statement can be made part of the bill of sale. (In some states this is part of the title.)
5. Be sure you fully understand and agree with the warranty - if it has one.
6. Bill of sale should include the following items:
• Date of sale
• Year, make and model description
• Tag number and state of registration
• Vehicle Identification Number (Check it against the VIN # on the title.)
• Odometer reading
• Amount paid for car and type of payment
• Conditions of the sale, if any
• Sellers and buyer's names, addresses and phone numbers

One more thing:

Buyers make a big mistake when they’re not prepared to “walk away” from the deal. If it doesn't feel right, if something seems amiss, if your "gut" seems to be telling you that your prospective purchase is a mistake... walk away. You can always find another car. Your money is harder to replace.