Have you ever seen someone kicking the tires on a car they were thinking about buying? It seems there’s a history behind the old saying “kicking the tires” before making a used car purchase. Back in the early car days when a car had not been properly maintained, kicking the tires would show what kind of shape they were in. Tires would become dry and crack if they had not been taken care of and kicking them revealed this flaw. Therefore, this practice let the buyer in on how well the owner had taken care of the vehicle. Just as with other car buying habits, kicking the tires no longer serves its original purpose, and is not the only used car buying myths many have adopted as truth. Here are a few real myths plaguing used car buyers today.
Myth #1 – Certified Cars Don't Need Any Repairs
Many people mistakenly think a "certified" used car means they will not have to make any repairs on the vehicle once they complete the purchase. There are some requirements a vehicle must meet in order to become certified, such as being inside a certain age and mileage guidelines. However, this in no way indicates the overall quality of the vehicle. For example, a certified vehicle in some regions are required to have 4/32 of tread left; but this is not safe for winter driving as the standard recommendation is at least 6/32 of tread. A certified vehicle may still need minor repairs, even though it met the requirements for certification.
Myth #2 – Pre-Owned Cars for Sale Are Safe If There’s a Clean Vehicle History Report
There is some useful information on a vehicle history report, but they do not contain information warning a buyer of any potential or existing electrical or mechanical problems. This type of report also does not reveal any previous repairs, including those after an accident. These databases simply cannot log every accident every day.
Myth #3 – There Is No “Automatic Warranty” When Buying a Used Car
When purchasing a used car from a dealer, it is not automatically covered by a warranty. In some cases, a dealer might offer a limited warranty, but the buyer should ask about the particulars, such as exactly which systems are or are not covered, as well as how long the warranty stands. In most cases, a warranty is extremely limited and does not cover most of the electrical and mechanical systems. The buyer has the responsibility of determining the condition of the car prior to purchase.
Myth #4 – I Can Find the Value of a Used Car Online
The Internet contains many sites claiming to calculate the value of a used car. Most of these sites offer a fair price for a used vehicle based on optional equipment and consider items like excessive miles in determining a value. However, these sites cannot offer a reasonable estimation for a vehicle’s true condition. A professional needs to inspect the actual vehicle and use the Blue Book value minus the cost for any repairs needed.
Are you looking for used car sales in Sussex County, NJ? Contact us at DeBoer’s Auto to have a professional help you find what you are looking for.
