4 Tips To Purchase A Car Without Getting Ripped Off

Photo by Adam Stefanca

Originally Posted On: 4 Tips To Purchase A Car Without Getting Ripped Off – The OMOTG Blog

Purchasing a car is an exciting time for anybody, especially when your current vehicle is on its last legs (or should that be wheels?) However, picking a new car can be stressful, especially if you don’t know anything about cars. You don’t want to drive away with something that will break down as soon as you leave the dealership, so here are four tips to make sure you purchase a car without getting ripped off.

Before looking at any car, or even deciding which car you want to purchase, you must first research the local dealerships to make sure they are trustworthy. These should come with plenty of reviews and even recommendations from friends and family, if possible. Most of the time, a trusted car supermarket will make it easy to choose the perfect car, but others may not be so benevolent. While you want to hope everyone is acting in your best interests, this is not always the case, so be careful when attending a dealership.

All cars will have history, and you may be able to access this information through government websites. As the car should be registered with the local authorities, you will ensure the certificates are legitimate, ensuring that it is road safe. Knowing the car’s history will help you determine whether this car is right for you or if it is close to meeting its end. The seller might just want to get it off the lot, so they will try to falsify documents, so request to see official and real certificates (not photocopies) to make sure everything is above board.

You may come across signs that say, “No Refunds” or “Sold As Seen”. This should be a red flag, even if you’re unfamiliar with buying a car. Here, the dealer is trying to infringe on your rights, and it is something that you should avoid at all costs. Even without these signs, there might be something suspicious about the trade-in price or the financing policy. Basically, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The best way to figure out whether this car is right for you is to test drive it. Any legitimate dealer should allow this, so if they don’t, it’s a sign you should look elsewhere. If they do not permit you to test drive the vehicle, they might be trying to hide something, and as you want to purchase a car with total confidence in its quality and ability, you will need to test drive it. This shouldn’t be a quick drive either, so don’t be afraid to take it a little further to get a feel for how it drives while also managing to identify potential problems.

Whether you need a car for work, travel, or just for convenience, it’s imperative that you know what you’re getting to avoid getting burned. While most people will act in good faith, others are looking to take advantage of your needs. With this in mind, you must know precisely what to look for to ensure you can drive away with success.