We’ve all heard the horror stories from unsuspecting motorists that ended up buying a car that isn’t what it looks, and if you are looking to change your set of wheels in the near future, there is much to consider. The first thing to do would be to crunch the numbers and find a monthly repayment figure that you can realistically manage, and armed with this information, you can begin to look at cars. Here are a few mistakes that you should avoid when buying a used vehicle.

• Failing to Carry Out a Thorough Vehicle Inspection – A car might look in immaculate condition, with the engine sounding sweet, yet there could be tell-tale signs of hidden damage, and without a comprehensive vehicle inspection, you can never be sure. If you are not knowledgeable about cars, then hire a mechanic to appraise the vehicle on your behalf, which will reveal any issues, if they exist. There are affordable cars for sale in Canberra from an established dealer, and they would issue a warranty on all cars.

• Buying from a Private Seller – At first glance, there seems nothing wrong with buying a car from an individual, yet the sale will be on a ‘sold as seen’ basis, and that means you, the buyer, are responsible for any issues that might arise. In other words, you have no warranty and have agreed to buy the car based solely on what you have seen.

• Stretching Yourself Financially – That BMW M5 might look very appealing, but if your salary doesn’t cover the monthly repayments, you could be serious financial trouble in the near future. You should crunch the numbers and come up with a figure that you can comfortably afford and have the self-discipline to stick within that price range.

• Heart Rules the Head – There are times when a person gives in to the strong desire to acquire the car of their dreams, when in fact, such a car would be far from practical, so it is essential that the car you intend to buy is suitable for what you have in mind. A sports car, for example, is not really suited if you have a family (unless it is a second car).

If you consider all of the above when looking to replace your car, and you buy from an approved car dealership, your used car should exceed your expectations in every way. Start with a Google search and then pay your local car dealerships a visit to view their second-hand range of cars, and with a vehicle warranty, you can be sure the car is good value for money, and if you buy from an approved car dealership, your used car should exceed your expectations