Owning a car is always a big decision keeping in mind not only the cost of the car but the total cost of ownership, also because you wouldn't buy a car every year and would like to use it for at least for few years. As per different reports most of the first-time buyers prefer a used car over a new car.
Below are some of the major factors which makes buying a used car a better option to own your dream car:
Considering your budget, needs, driving habits you should decide upon what kind of car is best suited for you, to narrow down your choices study the various car brands, their models, price, and technical specifications. Some common questions you should be asking yourself are: Do you want to buy a hatchback or sedan; an SUV or a convertible? Will you be using the car for your office commute in the city or long road trips on weekends?
Type of Car: Based on your need and aspirations you can decide among the various types of cars:
Hatchbacks are the basic car type designed with a passenger cabin and a cargo section. These cars usually have two rows of seats, and commonly rear seat is foldable (fold-down), making substantial space for cargo. The integrated cargo section can be accessed from the backside of the vehicle by a single, a large flip-up window or top-hinged tailgate. Hatchbacks often are three-door with two entry doors, or five-door with four entry doors. Examples: Hyundai i10, Maruti Swift, Volkswagen Polo, and others.
Sedan is a best choice as a passenger car with two rows of seats and huge space in the rear for adult passenger. These cars usually come with a big trunk space. Sedans are available in two-door or four-door models. Examples: Hyundai Verna, Honda City and more.
SUV, commonly known as Sport Utility Vehicle, is a passenger car with towing and hauling capacity of a pickup truck. SUV has the passenger carrying space equivalent to a minivan along with a station wagon providing on or off-road capabilities. These utility vehicles come with a combined compartment for passengers and cargo. SUVs generally have three rows of seats with a spacious cargo section behind the last row of seats. Examples: Mahindra XUV, Tata Safari, Honda CRV and more.
MUV is an abbreviation for Multi-Utility Vehicle. The shape of MUV is similar to the van, which is designed specifically for personal use. This is taller than hatchback or sedan and designed to offer maximum interior space to occupy more occupants. MUVs are popular for long trips with friends and family. Examples: Toyota Innova, Maruti Ertiga and more.
Convertible cars come with a flexibly operating roof called as retractable hardtop, whether it is made of strong or rigid material as steel. These can be easily converted from coupe to convertible and vice-versa at press of a button. The collapsible section of roof is crafted of flexible canvas or vinyl or an articulated folding frame.
Coupes are smaller cars, also called as sporty version of sedans. These cars have just two doors instead of four. Coupes generally offer passenger space for two in front and two in rear.
Crossovers are the utility vehicle built with the features combining that of a SUV or a passenger car like hatchback. With a unibody structure that of a hatchback or a typical passenger car, crossovers offer perfect blend of hatchback design and SUV design attributes like independent rear suspension, fuel economy, car-like handling, high H-point seating, tall interior packaging, high ground-clearance, or all-wheel-drive capability.
Get information about fuel type (Diesel/Petrol/CNG) & average mileage of the car(s) you have shortlisted. The more the average mileage the better will be the fuel efficiency. Also depending on fuel type prices vary, you should choose fuel type based on your daily usage as lesser the daily running one should opt for petrol cars(s) to save money in final purchase and maintenance in longer run.
Majorly there are two types of sellers from whom you can buy a used car:
Usually an Individual sellers offers a better price as compared to dealer, however, the buyer should ensure that the seller is reliable by doing some due diligence. One should ensure the vehicle’s inspection by an authorised mechanic. Droom’s ECO service offers an Independent, Objective, Unbiased, Comprehensive and Scientific Auto Inspection Service.
Buying a vehicle through a dealer is much more organised, most of the dealers ensure the right paper work. The buyer should check the number of ownership/s involved as this can bring down the resale value of the vehicle by a significant amount. Also, when buying a car from a dealer, find out if you can receive a warranty as this is a benefit offered by some dealers in the market. Droom Offers plenty of pro-sellers and offers a free comprehensive warranty under Buyer Surety.
You can buy a car by paying cash or by taking a loan, most of the banks and NBFCs offers loans for used cars. A loan constitutes three main components, namely; the principal (borrowed amount), the rate of interest and tenure. You should check all the options available and go for the one fit best according to your requirements. Droom Credit offers lowest interest rates in the market and a trusted source for vehicle loans.
Getting test drive is perhaps one of the most important part of buying a used car. A 4-5km test drive through various types of roads to observe the comfort level while driving. During the test drive you should check that the engine should start instantly, the steering must not vibrate, and there should be no unusual sound or vibration. The brakes should be working properly even at a speed of more than 50 kmph. The car should stop in a straight line. The mileage indicator and speedometer must work properly. The clutch must operate smoothly without any jerk. Each gear should work properly and there should smooth change in gears. Check for any kind of leakage from engine or any other part. Ensure all the electronics - sound system, air conditioner, power windows, auto locking, etc. are working properly. Check Tyre Condition, Check seatbelts operability, Check lights, jack and other tools.
Getting the car inspected from a trusted professional gives you a piece of mind and ensures that you are not getting fooled by the seller. Droom's ECO service offers an Independent, Objective, Unbiased, Comprehensive and Scientific Auto Inspection Service.
It is important to check the complete History of the vehicle and not just the numbers on the car’s odometer. You should be aware of the other factors that contribute to the car’s condition e.g. service records, accidental history, loan history, etc.
Droom's History offers largest national repository for vehicle history that offers used vehicle history certificate for registered vehicles in India. A History certificate provides overall information about a vehicle’s background, covering up to 50 different history records in 10 seconds for free.
You should evaluate each required document properly before making the final decision:
List of documents required
Whether you are buying from an individual or any dealer there’s always a room for negotiation. Do your due diligence on the market price of similar cars.
Droom's OBV - Orange Book Value is an algorithmic pricing engine by Droom that suggests Fair Market Value for any used vehicle. Orange Book Value is built on Droom's proprietary technologies and data science. It takes into account the category, make, model, year and trim of the vehicle along with the condition of the vehicle and the kilometers it has run to suggest the fair market value. Orange Book Value is a category agnostic pricing engine and suggests unbiased fair market value for cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and planes. Unlike other sources that just report historical transaction data that is flawed, Orange Book Value uses data science and empirical evidence in terms of depreciation curves, margins and spreads with intermediaries based on a number of factors that have an impact on the valuation.
You should execute a sale agreement documented for avoiding any claim and diligently follow the all RTO formalities as stated by the local RTO Office. Currently, Forms 29 and 30 are mandatory documents required for buying a used car in India. For used car registration, the buyer needs to submit two copies of Form 29 and a copy of Form 30 signed by seller at the RTO for transfer of ownership:
List of documents required
In case of passenger vehicles, Road tax is a onetime payment at the time of registration of the car by the first owner.
Original Keys: Normally Cars sold in India comes with 2-3 Original Keys. Try on Checking all the Keys if all are working properly.
Read to find out answers for some of the most commonly asked questions in process of buying car.
You need to look for hidden signs to unearth an accidental damage
The minimum checks you can perform while test driving are:
The must-check documents list includes the following:
The minimum required safety checks are