Avoid Buying a Lemon Used Car

You can avoid buying a lemon used car by following a few basic tips as you shop for your next vehicle.

Trust, But Verify

When you’re looking at cars to buy, looks can be deceiving. You might have a good idea of what you want to purchase, so when you find the car of your dreams in a lot or with an individual seller, it’s simple to trust the car is as good as it looks. In most cases, you will not be disappointed by your car, but when it comes to used cars, it’s a good idea to look into verifying the structural integrity of the car. You will want to begin by looking online to find out some basic facts about your preferred makes and models:

• Recalls
• Reviews from other owners
• Defect history
• Company history
• Online vehicle history reports

There is a wealth of information available on used cars, so you can access much of the necessary information about your desired car right from the privacy of your own home. In doing so, you can narrow the search for the ideal car, which is going to help you visit fewer lots and deal with fewer sales people.

When you are looking online at a particular car’s history, you will want to look for accidents listed, repair work that’s been done, etc. Look at the entire history of the car to see if it seems to be a car which is going to require a lot of extra work on your part. You will need to VIN number in order to check a vehicle’s complete history. Check online for lemon law cars to see if any cars are susceptible to problems.

When You’re at the Car Lot or the Owner’s House

Once you’re in the lot with the information you’ve gathered online, it’s up to you to begin to see whether the car seems structurally sound. Kicking the tires is a starting point, but having an inspection will be better. Though the car lot may have already had the car inspected, it can be helpful to have a third party look at the car as well for any repairs which might be needed. In addition, take some time to look at the buyer guide which should be placed on the window. This will allow you to see whether the car is being sold ‘as is’ or if the warranty is limited. Knowing what the dealer or seller is offering can help you make the best decision and then help you avoid buying a lemon.

It also never hurts to talk to the owner to see what they have to say about the car’s history. You want to make sure you are asking as many questions as possible about what’s been done to the car, how many accidents it’s been in, etc. The more questions you ask, the more answers you will have in order to deliberate your decision.

These lemon law tips will allow you to more easily decide whether a car is worth your hard earned money. In some cases, a car will quickly show you that it’s not worth your time, but in other cases, you may not spot all of the problems. In those times, check the local used car lemon laws to see what you can do.