According to Autotrader, over 4.7 million vehicles are sold in Canada each year. In 2016, used automobiles accounted for almost 60% of all purchases, with new vehicles accounting for 40%. Therefore, there are approximately 25 million vehicles on the road in Canada today for completeness.
When it comes to secondhand vehicles, you have a lot of options.
Private Sellers vs. Dealerships
Besides the Carproof car history report, you won’t find much information when purchasing from a dealer. You might be able to have it inspected by a mechanic as well, but that’s about it.
Buying a secondhand truck from a private seller allows you to ask the current owner questions. The car history data is still available to you. You also have the opportunity to learn why the seller wants to sell it.
The following are nine questions to consider when looking for used trucks.
1. Can you tell me about the truck’s maintenance history?
There is a significant difference between having a truck serviced at a dealership, an independent mechanic, and a mechanic that works from home. The latter, of course, has nothing to do with a garage. You should find out who of the three serviced the truck in the past.
Inquire whether the owner has kept up with the maintenance. Hopefully, the response will be a resounding “yes.” A seller may even link you to the mechanic who has serviced the truck.
2. Is it possible to obtain service and maintenance records?
Hopefully, the current owner has the maintenance records. If the owner kept records, they should be assembled and ready for you to view. Keeping records also implies that they serviced the truck regularly.
3. Is the truck involved in any accidents?
Accidents that have been reported appear on a car history record. However, other minor incidents go unreported, such as the owner backing into a tree on a hazy day.
Even historical accidents do not always capture all of the details. For example, if you want to buy used vehicles in Edmonton from dealerships, you’ll have to rely on the car history report. The report will include summary information on the accident.
However, if you buy from a private seller, you can ask for more comprehensive inquiries. You may, for example, inquire about the degree of the harm. Or which garage did the work.
4. Which features do not function properly?
More frequently than not, older trucks have problems. Some of the car’s functions are no longer functional. Alternatively, they may no longer function as they should. Some may be insignificant. Other issues may deter you from acquiring the truck.
For example, if the CD player occasionally holds CDs captive, you might not mind.
On the other hand, a faulty air conditioner is a more costly (and inconvenient) annoyance to repair in the long run. So that might be on the list of unacceptable.
5. Can you tell me about the truck’s ownership history?
The Carproof car history report will be available through a dealer. However, this implies that both the dealer and you have the same knowledge about the truck’s past.
A private vendor should be able to provide more information. If the current owner has just had the truck for a short period, this could be a red flag. You’re looking for a seller who has owned the truck for several years.
It’s wonderful if you can find the original older. When looking for secondhand vehicles in Edmonton, you might utilize “original owner.”
6. What’s the deal with selling the truck?
This is a rather straightforward question. Private vendors will anticipate this and be prepared to respond. Use your best judgment to determine whether the seller’s response is genuine.
If you suspect you’re being told a lie, trust your intuition. If the seller’s reasons appear shady to you, they most likely are.
7. How did you arrive at this price?
When you’ve decided you want to buy the truck, ask the seller how much they paid for it. They can pull a price out of thin air. They may also allude to a common pricing guide at times.
Hopefully, you also priced the truck ahead of time based on your information before seeing the truck in person. You can always double-check after inspecting the truck and speaking with the owner.
In addition, you can look up the vehicle’s history on the Carproof website. To do so, you’ll need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
8. May I get the truck inspected by my mechanic?
The majority of respectable buyers will not resist this request. This includes car dealerships. If a private seller hesitates or begins to make excuses, consider this a red sign.
9. Is the owner in possession of the title?
The owner may not always be aware of the location of the title. Alternatively, the vendor could have an outstanding loan on the truck and not have the title.
You can work around these issues, but inquiring sooner rather than later will help you decide whether the truck is worth the extra time (and possibly bother) required to obtain the title.
