WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SECOND HAND CAR

Purchasing a new car can be a frightening process especially when you are unsure what to look for or what to ask the current owner. It is important when purchasing a second hand car to check for any signs of issues that may occur in the near future. You can contact BP Workshop for a pre-purchase inspection but there are a few things you can ask and do prior to contacting us:

Ask the current owner:

– How long have they had the car?

– Why are they selling the car?

– Has the vehicle ever been damaged or in a accident?

– Has the car got a road worthy certificate?

– Has it been serviced regularly?

A few things you can check are:

– Organise the inspection during the daylight, if you inspect in the dark it could conceal body marks, dents, rust etc

– Check under the car for any indication of dents, damage or rust.

– Check under the bonnet for any signs of an oil leak, use the dipstick to check the oil levels. If the levels are low this could be an indication that the car hasn’t been looked after properly.

– Inspect the engine for any sort of leaks, or corrosion. check the oil filler cap for a white mayonnaise like substance, this could be an indication of a leaking head gasket which is very expensive to fix

– Check all tyres, even the spare to ensure the tread is wearing evenly. Inside the car, check to make sure the seatbelts are working correctly, the front seats move properly and all switches work correctly (air conditioning, indicators, wipers, stereo etc)

– If you can, try and start the car when it is cold, this way you can see whether it starts poorly or has smoke when it is started

– When test driving, listen for any noises (make sure the radio is off), check the handbrake on a steep hill, check the transmission shifts from gear to gear smoothly and that the clutch on a manual doesn’t slip.

Contact BP Workshop on 3207 2224  or send us an email to book in a pre-purchase inspection with one of our qualified mechanics, to give you that peace of mind when purchasing a second hand car.