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Wednesday / 12 February 2025
HomeFeaturesHow to save money when buying a used car

How to save money when buying a used car

Paying attention to small details when buying a used car could save you money on repairs and replacements should you decide to purchase it.

Lucy Williams, reconditioning and logistics manager at used-car platform getWorth, highlights that consumers often overlook cosmetic conditions when perusing pre-owned vehicles and this ends up costing them dearly after taking ownership of the car.

“When purchasing a used car, it’s crucial to steer clear of major red flags like a shady accident history or severe damage,” said Williams.

“However… paying attention to smaller details could significantly sway your cost of ownership or resale value.”

getWorth spends around R8,800 on reconditioning pre-owned rides to showroom condition before selling them to customers again, with worse-for-wear examples demanding as much as R30,000 or more before they are back in respectable shape.

Important areas to inspect

Williams noted several critical areas you should assess when considering a particular used vehicle before making a financially-binding decision.

These include:

  • Tyres – The condition of the tyres and the tread depth will tell you how soon they must be replaced
  • Brakes – Unusual noises like squeaks or grinds could indicate worn brake pads or other issues that need attention
  • Rims – Minor scratches on alloy wheels can be inexpensively repaired, but the cost rises dramatically for diamond-cut rims
  • Front Bumpers – Bumpers with extensive stone chips can be pricey to respray, and textured surfaces might even need a full replacement
  • Windshields – A cracked windshield could lead to a car being declared unroadworthy, and modern windshields with sensors and cameras attached are expensive to replace
  • Bodywork – Costs for repairing dents and scratches vary. A simple dent pull might be affordable, but scratches near panel edges or dents on curves are more challenging and expensive to fix.

The expert said that a car’s age and mileage must also be taken into account when assessing the overall condition of it; should a low-mileage set of wheels have one or more of the above issues, it could indicate that its previous owners did not take very good care of it.

“Newer, low-mileage cars should look great, but older, high-mileage ones can be expected to bear more signs of use,” said Williams.

Additionally, it is important to check if a vehicle has a roadworthy certificate that guarantees it meets the minimum legal safety standard.

“It’s certainly not a seal of quality or condition, but if your seller doesn’t even certify roadworthiness, you need to tread very carefully,” said Williams.

Perhaps the most important, do not rush into a purchase or buy from an unscrupulous dealer or individual. Pay attention to the general condition of their dealership and the cars they are selling to get an accurate indication of their standards and whether you are comfortable with them.

“By heeding these insider tips, you not only safeguard your investment but also ensure your journey in your new (old) car is smooth and satisfying,” Williams concludes.

“Remember, in the realm of used cars, the small details can make a big financial difference.”

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