Five Main Misconceptions When Buying a Used Car

Automobile

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When choosing a used car, everybody wants to find the best option. However, there are a lot of low-quality offers on the secondary market, and the buyers have certain stereotypes that make it even harder to find a worthwhile vehicle. The rockstar car sellers from Indy Auto Man have collected the main misconceptions and explained why any car buyer should get rid of them.

Purchase only from a private seller

There is an opinion among buyers that it is better to buy a used car from private sellers, while car dealerships and resellers either ask too much or sell cars of low quality. Of course, there is often some truth in these complaints. However, the automotive market in the US is well-developed – the number of trade-in transactions with used car dealers is huge, and used car sales companies offer proven vehicles, give guarantees, and provide favorable conditions. At the same time, many private sellers do not neglect the opportunity to twist the mileage or hide the technical issues of some components or nodes.

Trust the brand wholeheartedly

The other extreme is when buyers are ready to pay only for a loud name. Reputation is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the branded platform of a large dealer holding inspires confidence, especially if it has been present in the US market for ten or more years. It seems that the staff is experienced, and the assortment is of the highest caliber. But in real life, a customer can face a car in bad condition, with the need for capital repairs, even at beautiful branded dealer sites. The personnel of certified car lots deals with hundreds of models weekly. They may have no time for a thorough check of each, and a diagnostic is still a headache for the future owner. No discounts on reputation. The local car dealerships, like Indy Auto Man, Indianapolis, treat each customer like a very important persona with attention to all their needs, and concerns. 

Better painted than chipped

Buyers perceive a completely repainted car better than one in its native color but with flaws in the body in the form of chips and scratches. The explanation is simple: restored paintwork looks more attractive and gives the impression of a higher quality. At the same time, a repainted car is always a mystery: why was it painted, how well was the repair done, and is there putty under the paint? If you are not an expert, the answers to these questions will appear in about one or two years, when the varnish begins to treacherously peel off and crack. It will be even more complicated to distinguish whether the paintwork is due to minor body damage or a major accident.

No Duplicate Title

Potential buyers avoid a duplicate certificate of title like the plague. In real life, there is no need to be afraid of it, but pay attention to the reasons for the replacement. There are cases when the same owner of a two-three-year-old car performs registration actions and subsequently receives a duplicate. Or if a duplicate title was issued to replace the worn-out one, as evidenced by the mark of the traffic police, there is nothing to worry about. Read also about the branded title on Indy Auto Man domain.

But if the title was reissued to replace the lost one, the buyer should beware. Such a car may have a criminal past, be totaled, pledged to the bank, in some cases, be the subject of property disputes.

No corporate use

Used cars from corporate fleets are often associated with taxis, which, in turn, are known for ruthless operation and poor maintenance. But the corporate park and taxis are two different poles. Unlike taxis, which can travel up to 300 miles in just a day, corporate cars have a mileage of 20-30 thousand miles a year. At the same time, companies do not save on their maintenance in authorized service centers. The age of such vehicles is three to four years since they enter the market after the end of the warranty period. Often they are redeemed for personal use by the employees themselves. And experienced buyers even hunt for similar options in the secondary market.

Conclusion

Buyers should not be led by stereotypes when striving to find a quality used car that will serve the owner for a long time. So they run the risk of missing a good offer and getting bogged down in the search for a long time. Instead, it is worth looking for a local used car dealership with a good assortment, a strong reputation backed by customer reviews, and quality guarantees, where expert sales assistants will help find the best option with no pressure.