Essential Tips for Buying Used Trucks
Buying a used truck is the most cost-effective way of owning a truck, often you can find affordable deals on trucks that have been lightly used and well maintained. If you are new to purchasing used trucks, there are a few insider tips that can help you to get the best deal.
Before you dive into searching for a used truck, you need to take some factors into consideration. Here are some of those factors:
● Set your budget and know exactly how much you are prepared to spend if you go slightly over your budget
● Create a shortlist of truck options, make, model, age
● Decide on financing and insurance (will you self-finance or apply for truck financing?)
● Be aware of the age and history of the truck, how old is the truck?1. Why are they selling?
When you are buying a used truck, you need to determine why the sellers want to sell the truck. Is there a hidden fault? Is the truck too slow? Or too old? There is always a reason why, ask the necessary questions to find out why they are selling it before you make an offer.
2. Examine the maintenance history
If the seller tells you that there are no major problems with the vehicle, you need to make a proper assessment of the maintenance history of the truck. Establish how many times it has received tune-ups, regular service and check-ups and also, has it had major faults in the past that were fixed?
Has it had parts removed and replaced? These are the things you should be checking for prior to purchasing the used truck.
3. Check the Oil Change History
Checking the oil change history is another essential tip, this will give you an idea of how healthy the engine is. If the maintenance and oil change record is in some way sporadic or empty, this could indicate that the truck might have some underlying problems that haven’t been fixed.
If you are searching for International trucks for sale, for example, you would need to request a comprehensive background check of the vehicle before you decide to finalize the purchase.
4. Check the accident history
Accident history can be concealed therefore, it is vital that you pay close attention and thoroughly investigate the accident history of the truck. These are the questions that you should be asking:
● Has the truck been involved in accidents? If so, what type of accident?
● When did the accidents take place
● How serious was the accident?
● Did they replace parts?
If you don’t check the accident history, you could eventually run into problems in the future. It is better to be safe than sorry and spend the necessary time investigating the accident history of the truck.
Here are some essential guidelines to facilitate the process of buying a used truck. Remember, truck accidents can be fatal. Unfortunately, even a minor accident can cause a lot of damage when a truck is involved, so make sure to consult with Lem Garcia Law, the best and thorough Oceanside car accident lawyer in California.
5. Engine Type History
Do some research about the engine type and its history. Research to determine if this particular engine type has the potential to break down or develop faults.
6. Comprehensive Inspection
Do a comprehensive inspection to check for existing faults, potential faults and the overall quality of the vehicle. Utilize the services of a professional truck mechanic who can identify problems or potential problems. Check the oil, check the body for rusting and general body damage. Concealed accident damage can be detected during a comprehensive inspection.
7. Truck Mileage
Pay attention to the truck’s mileage, this can help you decide if the vehicle is worth purchasing or not. After doing your research on the engine type and model, the truck mileage can facilitate the decision-making process. If the truck has a high mileage,then it could mean that the engine might need to be replaced in the near future.
8. Check the tyres
Checking the tyres is an essential part of a comprehensive inspection. It is vital that you check the tyres to make sure that they are in relatively good shape. Often people neglect the condition of the tyres and focus on the mechanics of the truck however, paying attention to the condition of the tyres is also necessary.
9. Test Drive
When purchasing your used truck from a dealership, it might be possible to test drive the truck. However, if you purchase it from an individual seller, this might not be possible. Your mechanic should thoroughly test the mechanics of the truck before you make an offer.
10. Check the Horsepower and Towing Capacity
If you are buying a truck, you are more than likely going to use it for haulage purposes therefore, you should check the horsepower and the towing capacity of the vehicle before buying it
11. Don’t Accept the Price
When purchasing a used vehicle, never accept the initial price. If you are serious about purchasing the vehicle, drastically reduce the price, if the owner is willing to take rock bottom prices, this is often an indication that the seller is desperate to get rid of the vehicle, this is not a good sign. If you are happy with the condition of the truck and you have carried out all necessary checks, offer a slightly lower price and bargain to get the best bang for your buck.
12. Extended Warranty
Ask about an extended warranty and find out if they offer a cooling off period after you purchase the truck.
13. Choose a Legitimate Seller
If you can, choose a legitimate seller with a professional and untarnished reputation when it comes to selling used trucks.
Purchasing a used truck is a major decision and investment therefore, you want to make sure that you follow some or all of the tips outlined in this article to prevent you from making avoidable mistakes when you purchase your used truck.
Make sure you carry out a thorough inspection of the vehicle and utilize the services of a specialist truck mechanic. Do the necessary background checks such as accident history check, engine history and check the tyres for excess wear and tear.
