Nowadays buying and selling a used car in Nigeria is no big deal: you can go to your favourite online marketplace, JiJi, and look at thousands of ads. There you can find Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai and lots of other car brands in virtually every Nigerian city: Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, etc. However, there are some important steps you should take before completing a deal on a used car. These 7 questions to the seller will help you make a perfect choice!
Check out these tips for getting the best deal on a car!
Are you the first owner?
The number of previous owners is an important characteristic of any car, because it helps you determine whether the car has been in use too much and might display some issues with its systems and mechanisms. Of course, there are owners who will never answer the truth to this question, but in that case you should simply ask for the documents on the car: the original receipt and the ownership certificate – they will tell you everything you need to know.
Why is the car being sold?
This is one of the most important questions for buying anything in the world: mobile phones, real estate, clothes, furniture, etc. It’s one thing when the owner wants to buy a new, more modern car, or give this one to his parents or children – you can safely buy that car. However, it’s another thing when the owner refuses to answer this simple question or starts acting suspiciously – it’s a signal for you that something might be wrong with the car, or it could even be stolen.
What is the car’s mileage?
To find out the car’s mileage you don’t even need to see the seller in person – just ask this question over the phone or on the Internet. When you know the mileage of the car you want to buy, it’s easier for you to estimate the car’s condition. If the mileage is hundreds of thousands of kilometres, it’s safe to assume that the car has some issues that you need to ask the seller about.
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What is the condition of the car?
This is a question that is really essential for determining the true state of the vehicle. You can ask this question over the phone in your first conversation with the seller, and then find out if he’s telling the truth. If the owner says the car is in an excellent condition, and instead you see dozens of problems in every system of the car, it means that not only you should refuse to buy this vehicle, but also that the owner is an dishonest man who is trying to take advantage of you.
Was the car regularly serviced?
When you want to know if the car is in good condition, learning whether it was regularly taken to a car service is crucial in estimating the car’s true state. Regular maintenance and repair means the owner cared about the car and tried to avoid any issues. It doesn’t mean if the car was repaired by the owner himself or taken to a mechanic – you can still expect an excellent condition from a car that has been regularly serviced.
Can I take the car for a test drive?
A test drive is a standard element of buying any car, used or new. A buyer cannot make a final decision without driving around in the car for some time to tell if the car meets his needs and requirements for speed, comfort and performance. It’s also a great way to determine whether the car has any running issues that you can detect only while driving. If the seller says you can’t take the car for a test drive, or you can take it only for a couple of minutes, it might indicate some problems with the car he is trying to hide from you.
What is your final price?
If you like everything about the car except its price, ask the seller what his final price it. By letting him know that you are serious about buying the car, you can get him to lower his asking price, which both of you can benefit from – he gets to sell the car quickly, while you get to save a bit of money. Before you make the decision, look at ads for similar used cars and make sure if your future car is not overpriced.
We hope our tips will help you have the best bargain on your new car!
