What to look out for when buying at a car auction

High prices for new and used cars necessitate the need of shopping for cheaper cars in auction yards. There is a belief in the car sector that a car that has been in service for a number of years and is maintained at good standards can have a longer span than the modern car. To some extent this belief is true especially when looking for a car to use in a rough terrain. However there is a very great risk in buying an old car especially at a car auction. This is because of the fact that this can have multiple mechanical problems and can out to be a liability rather than a utility to you after purchase. It is therefore very important   for you to ensure that you are able to scrutinize the car thoroughly before paying for it. There are different tips that you should observe before buying an old car in an auction yard. These tips include:

Examine the car’s body
The car you want to buy from an auction yard should be maintained at a very good condition. It should have a clean body with no traces of rust evident in the body. You should also be extremely cautious in situations whereby you identify that the car has been repainted a few days or weeks ago. You should ask the auctioneer the reason behind repainting the car. This is because of the fact that the car could have been repainted in order to hide salt damage on the car’s body.

Take the car for a test drives
Test drives are very important as they help in identifying any defective systems such as the brake system even before buying the car. During the test drive, you should also try to identify instances where there are some screeching sounds in the brake systems or in any other system.

Inspect the car’s electrical system
Most old cars have faulty electrical systems such as the air conditioning systems, lighting systems and the sound systems. The lighting system should be particularly very effective as it plays an exclusive part while driving at night. If there are any notable defects in any of the electrical systems, you should not purchase such a car. This is because of the fact that there is a very high possibility of you incurring high expenses while fixing the defects. In other cases, you may require to change the whole system all together.

Check the car’s interior
The seats and carpeting in the car of choice should be maintained at a very good condition. This is because of the fact that poorly maintained interiors can be a clear indication of poor car maintenance. Such a car has a very high likelihood of having faulty systems. You can also check at the condition of the tires whether they are worn out or not. This should however not cause any alarm as tires are bound to wear and tear especially with continued daily use.

Verify the ownership documents of the car
It is important to verify the legality of the ownership documents in the possession of auctioneers. This is because of the fact that there are unscrupulous auctioneers who can be stocking stolen cars. Purchasing such a car can get you into deep trouble with the law. In conclusion, always ensure that you are assured that you are purchasing a good second hand car from an auction that is going to be of maximum use to you.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *