Everyone who wants to buy a car should know what questions to ask when buying a car. We are talking about a used car, when there is a chance to give money for trash. Therefore, you need to know what to ask, so as not to be fooled. In most cases, questions are asked over the phone to understand whether it makes sense to go for a car inspection. But you can also ask them in person. This is done in order to determine whether the machine is in good condition and whether it is worth the named amount. It is especially important to know what to ask for beginners who are not yet versed in vehicles and are at risk of acquiring a pile of metal.
Important questions
It is quite understandable that a person wants to buy a car for a long time. In the case of buying a used car, there is a risk that the vehicle will quickly break down or be out of service. This is due to the fact that a person chose a bad option, because he did not take into account important points. Questions should be asked when buying a car, as you can learn a lot from the answers of the owner. Including it will be possible to decide whether the vehicle is in good condition or not.
Important! To save your time, ask first by phone about things of interest. If the answers are satisfactory, then it will already be possible to go and personally inspect the goods.
Questions regarding the characteristics and condition of the machine:
- How often did you drive the vehicle?
It is believed that not only the year of manufacture is important, but also the conditions for using the car. For example, if a person traveled a little, for example, several times a year to the country, then the car is most likely in excellent condition. But if a person moonlighted as a taxi driver on it, then it is better not to buy a car, because it is very worn out. - Where was the car stored and was it used in the winter. It is believed that starting the engine in cold weather has a bad effect on performance. It is even worse if the vehicle was driven a lot, and not only to and from the office.
- What is the car's mileage?
This is one of the most important questions that you should definitely ask. After all, how much the vehicle is worn out depends on the mileage. Too large indicators, as well as too small, should confuse. It is believed that the average mileage per year is from 15 to 30 thousand km. It should be understood that some people change the indicator in order to sell the car more expensive. Deception can be detected only by conducting a thorough diagnosis. - What condition is the car in?
Of course, this question is not asked in order to find out about all the breakdowns and problems. After all, sellers rarely honestly answer about the condition of the goods. But it will be possible to look at the reaction of the owner. Also, the answer may lead you to think about what you forgot to ask. Separately, it is necessary to clarify the condition of the body and interior. Perhaps there was a replacement of parts or there are dents, scratches. It is also important to find out if you smoked in the cabin, since the smell of tobacco will then have to be removed with the help of dry cleaning. - Have you been in an accident?
This question is asked so that you can roughly imagine how much damage was caused to the machine during operation. Perhaps the person has not been in accidents, and that's good. But if an accident involving this vehicle occurred, then this is not a reason to be upset. If a professional repair was carried out, then there will be practically no trace of the accident. - What needs to be replaced immediately?
It is rare to find a product that is in perfect condition. More often, the car is brought to such a form that it can just drive. However, there are still some parts that will have to be replaced very soon. Therefore, it is better to immediately ask the seller about it in order to assume future costs.
These questions will determine the condition of the car. Of course, you should not take everything at your word, as sellers like to keep things under wraps. It would be even better to take a friend who understands cars with you to help inspect.
What else to ask?
The basic condition of a used car and its provenance can be obtained from the salesperson over the phone if the right questions are asked.
You are about to buy a used car. You have already collected a certain amount of money, studied the offers on the market and understand which model of a used car you can buy and in what condition. It remains only to understand what are the right questions to ask when buying a used car to the old owner. In this article, we will pay special attention to this problem.
We often find used cars we want to buy from ads in other cities. I. We want to understand whether it is worth going for an inspection and spending our money on travel. Or maybe there is a car in poor condition, and it will not be worth the money. Also, it's important to know.
The basic condition of a used car and its provenance can be obtained from the salesperson over the phone if the right questions are asked. The answers to these questions will give you an understanding of whether it is worth going to inspect such a used car at all. Questions about the condition of the car on the phone should begin with leading questions. First, ask a soft question about the condition, equipment and history of the car. These questions will be open. Based on the detailed response of the seller, you can understand whether he is evasive or ready to tell everything about the car. If the seller gives answers that go to the side, then such a seller should alert you.
Questions about the condition of the car on the phone should begin with leading questions. First, ask a soft question about the condition, equipment and history of the car.
The table below lists the top questions to ask over the phone about the condition of a used car.
| Question 1 | What is the used car mileage? |
| Question 2 | What equipment does a used car have? |
| Question 3 | What condition is the car in? |
| Question 4 | What is the condition of the body and interior of the car? |
| Question 5 | Has the car been in accidents? |
| Question 6 | Has the car been regularly serviced? |
| Question 7 | Has the car been recalled by the manufacturer? |
| Question 8 | How many owners did the car have? |
| Question 9 | Who drove a car most of the time? |
| Question 10 | Reason for selling the car? |
What is the used car mileage?
One of the first questions should be one that concerns the mileage of the car being sold. The average mileage is considered to be from 8,000 to 32,000 kilometers. If the mileage declared by the seller does not fit into the framework, then you need to ask why such a specific mileage. Mileage over 32,000 kilometers per year is due to long-distance car trips. Usually such cars are used for work. In some cases, long trips are much better than numerous short trips with frequent stops. This means that the engine starter has been used fewer times. Don't trust the seller's response, like "all long trips were made on the highway" is not worth it. In addition, if the car has traveled less than 8,000 kilometers a year, this should also be alarming, as usually the car is less cared for on short trips.
What equipment does a used car have?
The next question to be asked should be one related to the vehicle equipment. The more you learn about a car's equipment, the better you will be able to navigate the average price of a given version of a car model on the market. Specify the following information about the configuration of a particular vehicle:
- type of transmission;
- Anti-lock braking system;
- car air conditioner;
— airbags;
— windows;
— audio system;
- automatic lock;
— seats and mirrors;
— sunroof;
- Cruise control;
- Upholstery material.
Ask repeatedly about specific items, as you can provoke the seller to talk about many comments on each vehicle system. Thus, it will be possible to find out the details of potential malfunctions of a particular vehicle system.
What condition is the car in?
This general question - what condition is the car in - will help you expose a sly salesman. Listening to the answer to this question, you will see in which direction the seller takes you, talking about the condition of the car. In addition, such open-ended questions will help you remember things that you would not have thought to ask.
What is the condition of the body and interior of the car?
Ask questions about the condition of the body, of course, you will want to know about possible scratches, chips and dents, or even about replacing individual body panels. Perhaps the seller will tell you the truth on this question. You can find out the condition of the salon in advance. So not everyone likes the smell of tobacco in the cabin. If the seller himself admits that they smoked in the car, this means that you will need to dry-clean the interior.
Has the car been in accidents?
The issue of accidents is too complicated for the seller. Sellers try to hide minor accidents that did not cause much damage to the car. Hide them so as not to reduce the cost of the car. Even if the seller admits to car accidents, you should not be upset. Perhaps the car was repaired by quite professional specialists. Find out more from the seller what kind of body repair was carried out with the car. Besides, .
Has the car been regularly serviced?
Every buyer wants to buy a used car that has been meticulously cared for. Maintenance at an authorized dealer implies the passage of a periodic technical inspection. The seller's statement that the car was serviced strictly according to the regulations, but he does not have entries in the service book, do not take it seriously. Smart owners keep all receipts for consumables purchased during the period of operation of the car. Ask the seller about such checks when inspecting the car. Auto shops usually show the mileage of the car in such receipts, thus you can restore the maintenance history of this used car.
Has the car been recalled by the manufacturer?
A manufacturer's vehicle recall is absolutely free for the owner. This process means that the car came to the official dealer's company service station, and work was carried out with it to eliminate the factory defect. In addition, records of such work are always kept by authorized dealers.
How many owners did the car have?
By asking the current owner of the car how many owners there were, you can restore the service history of this car. It is best if the owner of the car had only one.
Who drove a car most of the time?
Not always the owner of the car who sells it, sat behind the wheel of the main amount of the operating time. So it may be that the car was operated by his wife, son or other relatives. In this case, the owner will know little about the behavior of the car on the road, its features and possible shortcomings. Perhaps it will be possible to invite to the phone for a conversation exactly the person who drove this car most of the time.
Reason for selling the car
The question of the reason for the sale of the car is most focused on a plausible explanation. If the seller hesitates with the answer, starts to answer evasively, this should alert you.
We hope our article will help you choose a used car.
The basic condition of a used car and its provenance can be obtained from the salesperson over the phone if the right questions are asked.
You are about to buy a used car. You have already collected a certain amount of money, studied the offers on the market and understand which model of a used car you can buy and in what condition. It remains only to understand what are the right questions to ask when buying a used car to the old owner. In this article, we will pay special attention to this problem.
We often find used cars we want to buy from ads in other cities. I. We want to understand whether it is worth going for an inspection and spending our money on travel. Or maybe there is a car in poor condition, and it will not be worth the money. Also, it's important to know.
The basic condition of a used car and its provenance can be obtained from the salesperson over the phone if the right questions are asked. The answers to these questions will give you an understanding of whether it is worth going to inspect such a used car at all. Questions about the condition of the car on the phone should begin with leading questions. First, ask a soft question about the condition, equipment and history of the car. These questions will be open. Based on the detailed response of the seller, you can understand whether he is evasive or ready to tell everything about the car. If the seller gives answers that go to the side, then such a seller should alert you.
Questions about the condition of the car on the phone should begin with leading questions. First, ask a soft question about the condition, equipment and history of the car.
The table below lists the top questions to ask over the phone about the condition of a used car.
| Question 1 | What is the used car mileage? |
| Question 2 | What equipment does a used car have? |
| Question 3 | What condition is the car in? |
| Question 4 | What is the condition of the body and interior of the car? |
| Question 5 | Has the car been in accidents? |
| Question 6 | Has the car been regularly serviced? |
| Question 7 | Has the car been recalled by the manufacturer? |
| Question 8 | How many owners did the car have? |
| Question 9 | Who drove a car most of the time? |
| Question 10 | Reason for selling the car? |
What is the used car mileage?
One of the first questions should be one that concerns the mileage of the car being sold. The average mileage is considered to be from 8,000 to 32,000 kilometers. If the mileage declared by the seller does not fit into the framework, then you need to ask why such a specific mileage. Mileage over 32,000 kilometers per year is due to long-distance car trips. Usually such cars are used for work. In some cases, long trips are much better than numerous short trips with frequent stops. This means that the engine starter has been used fewer times. Don't trust the seller's response, like "all long trips were made on the highway" is not worth it. In addition, if the car has traveled less than 8,000 kilometers a year, this should also be alarming, as usually the car is less cared for on short trips.
What equipment does a used car have?
The next question to be asked should be one related to the vehicle equipment. The more you learn about a car's equipment, the better you will be able to navigate the average price of a given version of a car model on the market. Specify the following information about the configuration of a particular vehicle:
- type of transmission;
- Anti-lock braking system;
- car air conditioner;
— airbags;
— windows;
— audio system;
- automatic lock;
— seats and mirrors;
— sunroof;
- Cruise control;
- Upholstery material.
Ask repeatedly about specific items, as you can provoke the seller to talk about many comments on each vehicle system. Thus, it will be possible to find out the details of potential malfunctions of a particular vehicle system.
What condition is the car in?
This general question - what condition is the car in - will help you expose a sly salesman. Listening to the answer to this question, you will see in which direction the seller takes you, talking about the condition of the car. In addition, such open-ended questions will help you remember things that you would not have thought to ask.
What is the condition of the body and interior of the car?
Ask questions about the condition of the body, of course, you will want to know about possible scratches, chips and dents, or even about replacing individual body panels. Perhaps the seller will tell you the truth on this question. You can find out the condition of the salon in advance. So not everyone likes the smell of tobacco in the cabin. If the seller himself admits that they smoked in the car, this means that you will need to dry-clean the interior.
Has the car been in accidents?
The issue of accidents is too complicated for the seller. Sellers try to hide minor accidents that did not cause much damage to the car. Hide them so as not to reduce the cost of the car. Even if the seller admits to car accidents, you should not be upset. Perhaps the car was repaired by quite professional specialists. Find out more from the seller what kind of body repair was carried out with the car. Besides, .
Has the car been regularly serviced?
Every buyer wants to buy a used car that has been meticulously cared for. Maintenance at an authorized dealer implies the passage of a periodic technical inspection. The seller's statement that the car was serviced strictly according to the regulations, but he does not have entries in the service book, do not take it seriously. Smart owners keep all receipts for consumables purchased during the period of operation of the car. Ask the seller about such checks when inspecting the car. Auto shops usually show the mileage of the car in such receipts, thus you can restore the maintenance history of this used car.
Has the car been recalled by the manufacturer?
A manufacturer's vehicle recall is absolutely free for the owner. This process means that the car came to the official dealer's company service station, and work was carried out with it to eliminate the factory defect. In addition, records of such work are always kept by authorized dealers.
How many owners did the car have?
By asking the current owner of the car how many owners there were, you can restore the service history of this car. It is best if the owner of the car had only one.
Who drove a car most of the time?
Not always the owner of the car who sells it, sat behind the wheel of the main amount of the operating time. So it may be that the car was operated by his wife, son or other relatives. In this case, the owner will know little about the behavior of the car on the road, its features and possible shortcomings. Perhaps it will be possible to invite to the phone for a conversation exactly the person who drove this car most of the time.
Reason for selling the car
The question of the reason for the sale of the car is most focused on a plausible explanation. If the seller hesitates with the answer, starts to answer evasively, this should alert you.
We hope our article will help you choose a used car.
The main thing is not to lie, since both the laws of the state and the laws of universal morality prohibit it. But the nuance is that even without deception, the right model of communication with a potential buyer can help you sell a car.
Indeed, its outcome often depends on how the seller behaves during a meeting with a buyer: a car will be bought from an open, smiling and friendly owner sooner than from a gloomy and rude one.
Please the buyer
You must please the potential buyer, be friendly, but not intrusive. And it’s not worth fawning over everyone who comes - you need to be confident. It is beneficial to give the impression that this buyer is just one of many, but you really want to attach your favorite car to safe hands, and not give it to the first person you meet - even if for a lot of money.
Do not be silent
When showing his product, the owner must make a presentation of it - after all, for the buyer, your car is just one of many that he has already seen or is going to see, and it is your car that he needs to remember from the positive side. It is impossible to be silent during the examination.
It is necessary to talk about the advantages of this model over machines of other brands, as well as about the conditions of its operation, repairs carried out, new branded parts, a specialized service station where it was serviced.
You need to talk slowly, remembering one or the other fact of the “autobiography” as the buyer moves from examining one node to another. But you should not praise the car too much - you need the buyer to come to the conclusion that the car is very good.
bargain
You need to bargain, because if you immediately agree to a significantly lower price, this may cause suspicions in the client about the quality of the goods. Give in a little (of course, if you set the initial price with an appropriate surcharge), insisting that the car is in good condition for its age.
But if the buyer notices the defects and becomes too zealous to demand a discount for each of them, say that all the defects have already been taken into account in compiling a price that is much different from the price of a new, flawless car.
Arrange the right test drive
During a test drive, try to immediately give the buyer positive emotions from direct acquaintance with the car. Therefore, first get behind the wheel yourself, and drive the car in such a way as to emphasize its advantages (after all, you know them well): avoid sharp maneuvers or road sections where, say, the flaws of a worn suspension will appear. Or, on the contrary, confirm its excellent condition by silently overcoming an impressive pit.
You should not twist the engine, brake hard and change lanes vigorously, demonstrating the dynamic capabilities of your “swallow” - after all, the buyer may think that you always drive like this and will not want to buy a car ditched by a homegrown “Schumacher”.
If the buyer wants to go to the service station for diagnostics or bring a specialist with him, it is better to allow him to do this. And if you have something to hide, refer to the fact that the inspection with specialists takes a lot of time, and you have an appointment with the next buyer in half an hour.
Break up nicely
Just because you handed over the car to the new owner, and he paid you off, does not mean that you will never see each other. It makes sense to maintain good relations with him - if only because, according to the Civil Code of Ukraine, he may demand to return the money to him because a hidden defect was found in the car, the truth about which you deliberately hid.
Be friendly to the end, after the payment, remind the new owner of your car about the need for an emergency oil change or brake pads, wish you a pleasant trip.
If you had a stock of parts or some accessories for the car you are selling, and you did not give them away at the auction as an argument against lowering the price, just give something of them to the new owner. The person will be pleased, and your pantry or garage will not be cluttered.
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Every customer who calls on your ad, or approaches you at the car market to buy a car, will try to bargain. He will start looking for flaws (if he doesn’t find them, he will come up with them) in order to reduce your price.
You must be prepared for this and not be angry with buyers who are bargaining. And even better - make a knight's move» and set the price taking into account the discount to the real buyer.
Want to sell your car for $10,000? So, write 10,300 in the ad. Drop $ 300 - make the buyer happy.
But on the occasion of impudent and extortionists, you should not go. Some, especially smart ones, use their impudence to get a good product for next to nothing.
If you set the real cost of selling a car, without overestimating it, you can send arrogant individuals to hell, they say, the market is large, look cheaper.
Of course, the most difficult stage is bidding and talking with the client. How quickly you will be able to sell the car depends on how professionally and confidently you behave..
And vice versa - confusion, uncertainty, doubts, lack of psychological stability will lead to the fact that the buyer will either refuse to deal with you, deciding that you are hiding something, or will put pressure on you and buy a car cheaper than you would like.
If you want to quickly and expensively sell a car, adhere to the following rules in a conversation with a client:
- Adapt to the client when he sets the time and place of the meeting - do not build a super-busy exchange who has no time - the buyer will not tolerate such treatment and will find a more interested seller.
- Don't be late for meetings - it's a sign of disrespect.
- Do not chatter incessantly, give the buyer time to examine the car calmly, without your nightingale trills.
- Answer questions directly, without hesitation and philosophical digressions, so that the client does not think that you are hiding something from him.
- When conducting a test drive, you do not need to squeeze the maximum out of your car (drive 200 km per hour, demonstrate a police U-turn) - run into either the police or an accident.
- Don't let the client ride in the car without you - you don't know the person, so why take the risk?
- Do not refuse, at the insistence of the buyer, to visit the service station to check the condition of the car.
- Do not insist on visiting your particular service station, but if you feel that the auto repairman is in cahoots with the buyer, because he begins to invent non-existent breakdowns, offer to visit some other station for comparison.
- If you see that you have a reseller in front of you, try to tactfully send him off: he is unlikely to pay the market value (unless his price suits you), but it will take a lot of time. It is better to sell the car to an ordinary client.
- Do not starve the buyer: do not follow him around the city, do not call every day with the question “ So, are we making a purchase?", do not impose too much.
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