5 Tips For Buying a Reliable Used Car in California
Buying a used car is a smart choice when you’re on a budget and don’t want to go deep into debt, but it requires due diligence to make sure you don’t get a bad deal. This is especially true if you’re not that knowledgeable about cars and need to rely on others to help you make your decision.
Whether you’re looking for a used car from a private individual or a dealer, here’s how you can avoid common pitfalls and get a reliable vehicle.
- Know California’s laws
The first thing to do is arm yourself with knowledge of the law. You need to know what the law requires. For example, in California, private sellers aren’t required to disclose any known issues with a car they’re selling. If you buy from a private individual, no matter what they tell you about the car, you have to consider the sale “as is.”
As The Barry Law Firm explains, California has a strict lemon law, but that only applies to businesses. This makes it safer to buy a used car from a business, but there’s still no guarantee you won’t get a lemon. People buy cars from used car lots all the time that end up breaking down and when they try to return them, the business refuses to accept them. If this happens to you, the only option you have is to file a lawsuit against the company that sold you the car. Should you choose to file a lawsuit, always consult an attorney, and don’t use AI for legal advice.
Knowing that California’s lemon law only applies to businesses gives you an advantage in who you choose to buy from. However, there’s still more to factor into your decision.
- Research the seller’s reputation
If you choose to buy from a car lot, research the business to find out what kind of reputation they have. As with most businesses, you can probably find a bunch of positive reviews, but that won’t give you the full picture. You need to intentionally look for buyers who feel like they got a bad deal to find out not just what kind of issues they had, but how the business responded. If you see the business responding politely to angry customers and wanting to make it right, saying they’ll accept a return and offer a refund, that’s a good sign.
However, it doesn’t mean the company followed through. You’ll have to use your best judgment to discern whether or not the business is sincere. As a general rule, most businesses will have a handful of customers who can never be satisfied. On top of that, used cars can have issues that even a skilled mechanic misses. Oversights happen – they just shouldn’t be major.
- Take all potential vehicles to a mechanic
Nobody will be able to tell you the condition of a vehicle better than a mechanic. If you buy from a private seller, it’s crucial to get the vehicle inspected by a mechanic before agreeing to the sale because you have no recourse if you discover major problems even five minutes after you drive away.
When buying from a business, they’ll tell you they’ve had their private mechanic check out all vehicles, but it’s always a good precaution to have a third-party mechanic look it over. Most businesses won’t have an issue with this. If they do, that could be a red flag.
- Get a vehicle history report
CarFax is a game-changer where used vehicles are concerned. Never buy a used car without running a vehicle history report first. You need to know about any past accidents as well as where the vehicle was located. For example, a car from the East Coast or a beach town, like Santa Cruz or Monterey, is likely to have rust and erosion from exposure to salt.
- Know your deal-breakers
Most people don’t sell a car when there’s nothing wrong with it, so always keep that in mind when buying from a private seller. You are going to encounter problems with any used car, even if it’s just a matter of time before certain parts to expectedly fail. Know your deal-breakers. Are you willing to fix a broken heater or replace the radiator? What repairs do you never want to deal with?
Diligence reduces the risk of buying a used vehicle
Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a bad experience if you approach the process intentionally. Know the laws that protect you, and you’ll be more likely to get a good deal.
