Tips and hints for choosing a pre-owned car: how to get the car that is perfect for you.

Just like wiring money to Nigerian generals or long walks on short piers, purchasing a used car can be the sort of task that's associated with risk. This needn’t be the case, however. If one is watchful and puts a small amount of thought into it, the job need be neither discouraging nor high risk. To help, we’ve assembled some useful tips and tricks to make certain you find a good car that’s ideal for you. Look out for cars you want. Most of us aren’t Jeremy Clarkson and for the vast majority of the time a car is simply a car. If you’re intending to invest thousands in one, however, you might as well be sure it’s the one that appeals to you. Before you go to the showrooms and Websites, just pay a certain amount of additional attention to the cars which are close to you on a daily basis; the ones you pass on the street, park adjacent to at the workplace or see driving passed your window. Writing down the model and make of something you find desirable will offer an excellent starting place when you start your search proper, as opposed to just throwing yourself blind into the arms of fickle fortune. When you have discovered a car you like the look of, ask yourself if it’s something you could live with day-to-day. You might fancy yourself in that huge American muscle car that’s going for a steal, but it’ll likely drink petrol like a mule. On the other hand, can that dinky, fuel-efficient Smart carry three kids comfortably on a long school run? Stay away from cars that are likely to be attractive to reckless drivers. In particular here, we’re thinking about boy racers. Citroen Saxos, Vauxhall Novas, even Ford Fiestas are popular with the type of young, hot headed men that may very well have been driving recklessly and even without being insured. Even if the car looks like it's fine on the surface, there isn't any guarantee it's been well maintained and there could very well be underlying issues. Of course, if your potential car has been owned by a boy racer then the massive tail fins and under car UV lighting may also be a clue. Look around second-hand car dealers. They may have a bad rap, but the infrastructure of a business enterprise offers you an assurance of quality which you won’t get from a man in a lay by. Most second hand car dealers carry out their own quality checks on the vehicles that end up on their forecourts. Some may also offer a limited warranty and after-sales services. If the car is more than three years old, check with the seller that it has a new MOT. It’s not enough for it too just have an MOT; that may have been conducted a number of months ago and any variety of problems may have arisen since then. The World Wide Web is your friend; it can put you in contact with hundreds of sellers you would never normally have encountered. It’s common practice these days for people to set up a viewing via the internet, travel up on the train and then drive the car back should they like it. The normal rules still apply, of course. Do the exact same inspections you would were it a car you'd found down the local garage, and just because you’ve travelled to look at the car don’t feel pushed into buying. You’ll lose more money on a badly chosen car than you will on a return rail ticket. Sort out a test drive and if possible one that means that you can keep it overnight. Don’t just use it for just one trip to work and back: take it on a proper drive. You might spot the sticky clutch or grinding gears on the Colchester bypass, but you may not notice the tendency to overheat on lengthier drives or the old spring in the seat that pokes into your back. Carry out an HPI check. These are accessible very easily on the internet. Put “HPI check” into any search engine and you’ll be presented with internet pages which demand no more of you than to key in your potential investment’s registration number. In return, you’ll get a complete rundown on whether or not the car concerned has any outstanding finance, whether or not it has been reported stolen with the police, whether it is an insurance right off as well as whether it's a clone. A check will most likely cost between £20 and £30, but it’s worthy of that small outlay for peace of mind. Less expensive deals may be available if you’re checking several cars - and let’s be realistic, how many of us only look at one car when we’re buying? Just remember, remember that you're a customer. You might be buying a second hand car, but that doesn’t mean you should expect second hand service. Demand the best and if it is not adequate walk away. As a quick Google will demonstrate, there is no shortage of pre-owned cars out there and that gives you great power as a buyer.