Buying a used car requires attention and preparation, otherwise there is a risk of incurring significant financial losses. Roman Titov, Deputy General Director for Used Cars at Avilon Group, listed five unforgivable mistakes to avoid in an interview.
The first mistake is the lack of clear selection criteria. Before buying, you need to determine the purpose of use, the preferred body type, type of fuel and drive, and also calculate all operating costs in advance.
The second is ignoring the legal verification of the owner. The buyer is obliged to make sure that the seller has the legal right to sell the car and is not under arrest or undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
The third mistake is an unchecked VIN and operating history. The body number must match the vehicle title, and the condition of the car must match the declared one. The expert advises to provide in advance an additional 5–10% of the cost to bring the car in order.
The fourth is the refusal of insurance. The absence of comprehensive insurance can lead to large expenses in the event of an accident or theft.
The fifth is buying a heavily worn car to save money. Such cars often require constant repairs and can cost more than more expensive but working options.