If you planed to buy an used car, it is important not only to find the car you like but you may also need to take some precautions like checking the car history, taking a test drive, knowing its book value or taking an extended warranty.

Check the car’s history

An essential factor when car browsing is to learn the car’s history. This entails finding a reliable source as to whether the automobile has ever been flooded or involved in an automobile accident. Before agreeing to buy used cars, consumers may obtain a CarFax report at www.carfax.com or by requesting that their local dealer provide a copy. There is a minimal fee involved in acquiring the report, but the findings are invaluable. For instance, the number of owners and the title status are both included in a CarFax report.

Take a drive test

Generally, used cars buyers will be permitted to take a test drive and also may think about requesting permission to take the automobile to a trusted mechanic for an additional inspection. The best way to confirm that the automobile is in the condition as stated is to take it to a mechanic, who can properly inspect used cars and locate any underlying problems. Even if most used cars are exactly as stated, when auto safety and any amount of money is involved, there is no room for error in judgment.
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• Do your homework. Read up about the model of car you’re thinking about. Will it perform as you will want? Be aware of any known mechanical problems with that particular model and remember to check them out when you take it for a test drive (see tip 15).

• Look up the current second hand values for the car. Try starting at www.what car .com. Also get some of the second hand car magazines and your local paper. Check out the prices being asked for similar cars.

• Car Insurance is always a major expense. How much will that car cost you to insure? It’s easy to find out on the Internet – get a few quotes. It’ll just take you ten minutes.

• Also check out the car’s other running costs. We’re talking about fuel consumption, servicing and repair bills. Again www.what car .com can help. Ensure you can afford to run the car!

• When you see the car insist on seeing its registration documents and, if the car is more than 3 years old, its MOT certificate. The registration documents will also show the cars’ VIN number. Carefully check that the documents tally.

• Always ensure that the person selling the car does actually own it.

• And always see the car at the seller’s own home or business premises. Then ensure that the address on the Registration Document is at the same as the address – if not ask why. You should be suspicious.

• Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid? Does the vehicle registration number on the disc match the Registration Document and the number on its number plate?

• Ask to view the cars’ Servicing Record. Usually, this will also show the cars’ VIN number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills? Ask to see them.

• Now look under the bonnet and look for the VIN Number (it could also be on a plate on the inside edge of one of the front doors). Compare the VIN number with the number on the Registration Document and check that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. This will help to ensure that the car hasn’t had its identity changed.

• It’s best to take a friend with you who knows’ about cars – not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and anything that is agreed.

• Don’t pay for a car on your first visit and try not to be pushed into putting down a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).

• Ask the owner whether the car is subject to any outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. Then, when you get home, get on the Internet and check out the information provided with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC’ web site. Click on “Car Buying” and then “Vehicle Status Checks”. The Status Check will cost you £24.99 but it will confirm whether the car has outstanding finance. Best to be safe – without this Check you could find out that a finance company actually has a prior title to the car.
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With the hurricanes and flooding that has hit in the south recently there are hundreds of thousands of vehicles that have moderate to severe flood damage.

Some of these vehicles that have not been completely submerged will be cleaned up, freshner sprayed into carpets and vents and shipped North, East and West.

The people who deal in these vehicles get them dirt cheap and do some clean up and then ship them out to the unsuspecting public. These vehicles will look normal but after buying one of them you will most likely develope serious problems down the road.

These vehicles will have mold started that you won’t be able to detect for some time and the odor will be covered up with some strong sprays that will hide the problem for several weeks/months. But then one warm day sfter being closed up in the sun you will open the door to a musty odor that will start to become worse each day until after a while it will be unbearable.

The odor may be the least of your problems for after a vehicle is submerged in water for any length of time the water and grit is in the engine, transmission, differential all the wheel bearings and working parts. So after driving the vehicle a few hundred miles you will start to develope major failures to these components.

Also the water will get into the electrical system of the vehicle and cause shorts in the wiring that may cause fires or serious damage to the computer system of the vehicle that will result in very high repair bills.

To avoid buying any of these vehicles you will need to do a complete inspection of the vehicle to check it out for any tell tale signs of water damage. If you can’t do this youself hire a good mechanic to check it for you, or use a vehicle inspection service and Carfax to determine if it has been in a flood or any type of accident or had major repairs.
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There is plenty of information about buying new Buick cars and how to shop for the best deal, but what happens after the sale? What about warranty coverage and recalls? In this article, the focus turns to the post-sale questions and how to find the answers.

As with all new Buick cars, a warranty is offered to the new owner. It is important to remember, however, that not every repair is covered under warranty. Problems that are covered under warranty must be repaired at an authorized Buick cars dealership. The company actually recommends that all repairs, including those under warranty and those that are not, be done at an authorized dealership in order to maintain quality and knowledgeable service. The best way to find out if the shop is authorized to perform Buick cars warranty repairs is to simply ask.

Now that we know where to have the repairs made, it’s important to know about the warranty coverage period. When it comes to Buick cars, the warranty period on new automobiles covers four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The limited warranty promises to cover only registered vehicles that are located in the United States and Canada. The coverage period begins on the first day of delivery and provides bumper to bumper coverage on any automobile defect that is proven to be related to workmanship or materials. The company maintains that any Buick cars dealer will honor the warranty even if it was not purchased from that specific dealer.

Many people believe that only new Buick cars carry a warranty, but that isn’t the case. Used Buick cars also carry an optional warranty, which is available by purchase. In other words, used Buick cars are not automatically covered as new models are, but a warranty can be purchased and even financed directly through the dealership. Known as GM Repair Protection (GMRP), any optional warranty must be purchased at the same time as the vehicle.
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