Whether you are a buyer looking for your perfect companion in the used car market or a seller wanting to sell your old four wheeler there are certain things that you must keep in mind and questions to ask while buying a used car or selling a used one that can help you get clarity on a lot of things and also help you avoid any chances of fraud or issues with the purchase and sale.
We will explore the top 10 questions in each category in our article so that you are well-aware and well-equipped as a buyer or a seller.
We will begin by looking at What questions you should ask while buying a used car.
Who is responsible for maintaining the car?
This question can get you answers to a lot of things like how is the car maintained and whether it has received its periodic security checks at an authorized dealership or a local mechanic. This can tell you a lot about the current condition of the car and also if it’s up-to-date on its maintenance. So this is definitely one of the top questions to ask while buying a used car.
Ask questions about the history of the vehicle:
Has the vehicle ever been in any accident or floods and if it was, you need to ask about the damage that might have been sustained and its repair as well. It is usually easy to rely on the vehicle history reports, but you need to be cautious and ask the seller directly, just in case.
Can you show me the service records?
The timing and frequency of servicing says a lot about the long term maintenance of the used car. So this is a question you must definitely ask. If the owner has been regularly maintaining the vehicle and getting it checked, an affirmative yes is likely to be the answer.
Would you take the car out for a road trip tomorrow?
This is a question meant to take the seller by surprise and is an important one also. This is an interesting addition to our list while buying a used car and questions to ask a private seller. If the seller is confident enough, a vote of confidence will come along your way. However, if the answer is no, then you need to ask the cause and reason for it.
Are you the original owner of the vehicle?
Has the car been owned by multiple people or are you potentially buying it from the first owner? These questions will give you an idea of the vehicle owner history. If it has been owned by the current owner for a short period of time and has a long list of previous owners then it can indicate non-reliability of the vehicle and you might need to reconsider your choice then.
Is it alright if I get the car checked by my own mechanic?
This is one of the most useful and best questions to ask while buying a used car. It would help you get an idea of dependability and trustworthiness on part of the owner. Plus, it is always a good idea to get it checked from a reliable source, any hidden or underlying problems that might be there. Usually, an authentic seller won’t back out from this proposition.
Are there any features that do not work?
It is almost expected that while buying a used car, some of the features that worked when the vehicle was new don’t work the same way or as efficiently as before. It can range from minor fixable issues like a broken stereo system or CD player. However, some problems like the air conditioning not working properly, problems with gear transmission etc., are quite serious.
Why do you think you’ve set the right price?
This question is important to ask because, as a potential buyer, you should know and understand the factors that must have played an important role in setting the sales price of a used car by the seller. There are chances of meaningful negotiations when you ask this question.
How would this car impact my insurance premium?
It depends on what kind of car you’re going for. If you are upgrading your current vehicle by a huge margin and going for a much advanced option then your car insurance might also go up. Asking the seller about how much it costs on average to insure the car will give you a fair idea.
Why are you selling your car?
The last question on our list is the best question to ask when you are buying a used car and perhaps, the most important one as well. It might seem obvious but actually asking the seller why they have decided to put their car up for sale will help you understand if they are trustworthy or not.
The next segment will prepare you for selling your used car, so read on as we discuss the best questions to ask when you are selling a used car!
What sparked your interest in my car?
What often happens when selling a used car is that some people just call around casually not even knowing if the specifications actually match the car that they are looking for. This can help you weed out those who waste your time. By asking them why they want to buy your used car, you can answer specific questions and take the discussion further.
Are you a car dealer?
If you have decided to sell your car privately then you should usually steer away from selling it to car dealers, unless it has been too long trying to sell your car. Our main goal usually while putting our old vehicle on sale is to secure the best prices when selling a used car. But car dealers usually offer very low value and it is almost futile to negotiate with them to get anywhere near your expected price.
Also Read: Selling Your Car Privately V/S Dealership
Do you possess a driver’s license?
Always make sure that you ask this question from a potential buyer. Under no circumstances should you sell your car to an unlicensed driver, it could lead to financial and legal accountability on your part in case of any injuries or accidents. You should also be thorough with checking the age of the buyer and make sure their documents are authentic.
Who are you buying the car for?
This makes a very important addition to the list of questions to ask when selling a used car. If you are directly dealing with someone who will drive the car later, you can discuss better with them and also negotiate properly. Sometimes, people are looking for used cars for their family members, like parents searching for the best used cars for teens. In such cases, there are more chances of complaints later and a tougher time with negotiations.
What purpose will the vehicle be used for?
It is important to know in what ways your car is going to be used. If it is for personal use then it will be relatively easier to transfer the title of the car and the papers. However, for commercial or business purposes all states might have certain prescribed rules and laws which require some procedural inputs.
Are you planning to buy immediately or would you be looking for more options?
Knowing if a buyer is certain about making a purchase and that too in the near future can provide to you some certainty about the entire process of putting up your car for sale. If they are still considering other options, you can take the discussion further by scheduling appointments and test drives etc., to influence their decision.
Also read: Best Way to Sell Your Car
Would you like a test drive?
Most buyers would usually ask to test drive a used vehicle, which is important and needed too. However, if you make the offer from your end first, then it might cast a good impression on the customer.
Under whose name will you be registering the vehicle?
This will be useful when working out the paperwork for transferring titles, car insurance etc., If there’s a single buyer then the process can be relatively simple. However, in some cases two people might be getting the vehicle registered in their name, so you need to be mindful of that while you manage paperwork.
Ask questions about their insurance deductibles
Customers' insurance deductibles might provide information regarding the kind of vehicle they may be eligible for. Customers with larger deductibles are usually the ones who prefer buying pre-owned cars over newer purchases.
How are you going to finance the purchase?
The last and the most important question to ask when selling a used vehicle is the medium that the buyer is going to use for making the purchase. For lower values, cash payments are usually the universally acceptable medium. However, any value over $2000 should usually be financed through a cashier’s check as opposed to a personal or business check. A usual telltale sign of a scammer is insistence on money order or wire transfer and you should be wary of them.
These were the best questions to ask when you are selling a used car, which could help you qualify prospective buyers over email or telephonic communication itself and save you a lot of time and effort.
Previous blog: How To Sell A Car 15 Tips For Success
