One of the best ways to save money on a car is to buy it from a private seller. You have various options when buying from a private seller: you can use the internet and find cars for sale by owners locally, or you can check out Craigslist, eBay Motors, and Auto trader. The problem with selling cars privately, though, is that it’s difficult to know if the vehicle has been in an accident or had previous repairs done-either of which would significantly lower its value.
Inspect the Car Yourself
Make sure the car looks like it has been driven very little, if at all, before you purchase it. Check it out thoroughly, looking for signs of obvious wear and tear or signs that the previous owner abused the car. The condition of used honda in fresno should be a major factor in your choice of getting one. Older Hondas are notorious for rusting, and you want to make sure that nothing is going to cost you big time in repairs down the road.
Run the Car’s VIN Number
You can do this yourself by logging onto the National Highway Services website, or you can have a local mechanic run it. Just keep in mind that a VIN number only verifies that the vehicle is registered to an individual owner in a certain state, not that it has never been involved in an accident. This means that someone might have had it registered after an accident for some unknown reason and it would still show up as having no accidents on your VIN check.
Ask for Ownership Documentation
Make sure you ask for documentation such as registration papers, proof of insurance, and even maintenance records if they are available from previous owners. This is one of the best ways to know whether the car has been in an accident and would be expensive to repair. Most new cars are thoroughly inspected by the manufacturer, and there should be paperwork showing that it has been serviced.
Check Existing Warranties
Here’s where things get complicated-because they can lead you to a car that you can’t afford, but if you go with a pre-owned vehicle that has had very little use, then it may have only had one or two accidents when it was under warranty most of its life.
