USED CAR GUIDE

Consult the used car guide and get useful tips for inspecting vehicles and planning a purchase. For used vehicle category it is all the more important to do a lot of background research into vehicles, reasons why people decide to sell, and all the risks and terms associated with used vehicles.

USED CAR RULES OF FTC: BUYERS GUIDE

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Used Car Rule makes it mandatory for dealers to offer a buyers guide that includes a host of informtion such as:

• Natue of deal: "warranty" or "as is."
• Liability of the dealer for repair costs.
• Clear reference to spoken promises as difficult to enforce and so to get all promises in writing.
• Indication to the major mechanical and electrical systems on the vehicle.
• Advice on inspection by independent mechanics before the deal.

USED CAR GUIDE: USED CAR HISTORY

It is important to carry out a check on the history of the car, especially for previous accidents and rolled back mileage.

There are private agencies that gather and keep such information for a large number of vehicles in their database. They provide complete reports on the history of a car, including:

• Title information
• Total loss accident history
• Odometer readings
• Lemon history
• State emissions inspection results
• Number of owners
• Service records
• Lien activity, and/or
• Vehicle use (taxi, rental, lease, etc.)

USED CAR GUIDE: A CHECK LIST FOR NEW AND USED CAR

The best thing that can be done is to hire a trusted mechanic or someone with experience to inspect the vehicle for you. There can be hidden faults in the vehicle unknown to you or the dealer. Carry out a thorough check using a list prepared by people with some experience in this field. Some of the points to go through are:

• Check for rust and damage to undercarriage, body, and engine.
• Check for cleanliness and space.
• Check tires for wear.
• Coolant and radiator should not have leaks.
• Test drive the car and feel for acceleration.
• Test brakes carefully.
• Check for steering and alignment
• Do a parking test.
• Afterwards, check again for leaks etc.
• Go through service records, receipts and title
• Hire a specialist/mechanic to inspect the vehicle for you.