Buying guide

Ask Questions:

• Whats the vehicle mileage?
• What major work have you had done on the vehicle? Do you have the receipts?
• Did you buy the vehicle from new?
• Has the vehicle ever been wreacked, had a body repair or re-spray?
• Are you a licenced vehicle dealer?

  Have A Mechanic Take A Look:

• Windscreen wipers
• Lights
• Check the brakes-make sure theres enough fluid, and theres no pulling when pressed.
• Check the tires-look for good tread and matching sizes.
• Check under the bonnet-check battery for leaks,check oil for dirt.
• The Heater.

Check The Vehicles History:

If you have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you can go to several websites to learn the vehicle`s ownership history and find out about any past title problems, accidents, or repairs. For example, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) VINCheck? allows you to check if the vehicle has been reported stolen and not recovered, or has been declared a total loss by another NICB member.

  Watch Out For Odometer Fraud:

Even though it is illegal, each year the odometers on 3 million used vehicles are rolled back an average of 30,000 miles each. To protect yourself from odometer fraud, check the odometer carefully:

• Check to see if the numbers line up. Rolled back odometers often have misaligned numbers.
• Have a mechanic check your vehicle for signs of high use that seem inconsistent with the number of miles.
• Check the wear on the pedals. If the odometer reads very low miles, the pedals shouldn`t show signs of excessive

  Keep A Written Record Of Your Purchase:

• Keep all paperwork, purchase orders, canceled checks, warranty agreements, and timelines for completion.
• Keep the names of all points of contact, such as the people you do business with at the dealership. Keep their names, phone numbers, titles, and business cards.
• It is difficult to prove oral promises. Get all commitments for services, improvements, or changes to the product in writing.
• Get the name of the company that is providing all warranty work and a copy of the underwriter`s warranty agreement.