Make a budget

Setting a reasonable budget is the most important tip when buying a used car. Based on your budget, you can choose from jaywolfeacura.com variety of car models. 

Don’t choose a car based on your wants and dreams, but on your needs and financial ability. You can calculate your monthly allocation using Carsome’s loan calculator based on your budget to make life easier.

Online survey

Nowadays, you have access to all types of information at your fingertips. There are many online platforms like Carsome that offer used car trading services, so no more travelling far to a used car dealership. You should also do proper research online before going to a physical dealership. A smooth-talking salesperson might swoon you into buying something above your budget.

Furthermore, online car trading platforms let you set “filters” based on your budget and needs, making it easier to pick out vehicles that are within your budget.

The age of the car should be checked

A used car’s age limit is just as important to set as its budget. For example, you can buy a used car with a budget of RM20,000. You can then set the filter based on the estimated age of the used car you want (e.g., cars not older than 5 years) to narrow down your search. It can be found that the average age of cars sold to Carsome was between 6 and 8 years old.

Make sure your mileage is accurate

 A car’s value is affected by its mileage, which is generally high for used cars. A car with a low-medium mileage will make it easier for you to feel confident about its quality. You can often find quality that is comparable to what you would find in a new car if you buy a used car with low to medium mileage. The age of the car also has a bearing on this. The components in a car deteriorate over time regardless of how far it has been driven, so it is better to buy a newer car with a higher mileage than an older car with a low mileage.

The car’s history should be checked

You should always check the history of a used car before buying it. In most cases, used cars that are sold at a lower price than the market price have their own hidden history. Before purchasing a car, find out if it’s been in any major accidents, if it’s been overhauled, if it’s been flooded, how many times it’s changed owners, etc., because all of these factors will affect the car’s maintenance over time. Despite the car’s excellent appearance, do not be fooled by its appearance.

The car’s service records

The condition of a used car that is consistently serviced according to the schedule indicates that it is in good shape. You should look for car owners who service their cars at the service centres of their respective brands if possible.

All service performed on the car would be recorded in these service centres. You can use this maintenance information when you want to find out more about a used car that you are considering purchasing, whether it is information about spare parts or major damage to the engine or other parts of the vehicle.

Cars should be checked from the outside as well as the inside

If the car that you are planning to purchase has any dents, bumps, or defects, getting these fixed can be quite time-consuming and costly. If you discover any damage to the car that the owner does not want to repair, you can negotiate a discount.

The cost of repainting the car’s body is about RM 2,000 to RM 5,000, while the cost of removing a dent starts at RM 150, depending on how deep the dent is. The cost of deep cleaning your seats can range from RM 200 to RM 300, depending on the material.