| When you are shopping for a second hand vehicle, | | | | should raise a red flag. |
| you will want to carefully pre-screen the cars you are | | | | Ask if they are the registered owner. If not, who is? |
| interested in buying before you leave home. If you | | | | This is important. You want to be dealing with the |
| have a list of questions to ask when buying a used | | | | owner. You should ask them how long they have |
| car, you can save a lot of time and energy. The | | | | owned their car. Generally speaking, longer is better. If |
| reason for this is that it is much more efficient to call | | | | they haven't owned it long, they may be selling |
| ten people who have a car for sale and ask them the | | | | because it has issues and is giving them grief. If they |
| right questions, than it is to drive across town to look at | | | | have owned it a long time, it may be an indicator that |
| one vehicle for sale. | | | | they have been happy with its service, or conversely it |
| My first tip to you when interviewing car sellers is as | | | | may indicate that they are masochists! |
| follows. When you call, it's important to begin by saying, | | | | When buying a used car from someone, it is always |
| "I'm calling about the car for sale". If the answer is | | | | worth it to ask why they are selling. Ideally they have |
| "Yes", then ask them to tell you about it. If they have | | | | bought a brand new car. This often indicates that they |
| more than one car, they may be hesitant to answer. If | | | | are well enough off and have maintained their old car |
| they are hesitant, or if the answer is "Which one?", | | | | regularly. People who are well off, often got that way |
| they may be a private car dealer, also known as a | | | | by taking care of what is in their care. It's not always |
| curbside car dealer, or curber. | | | | true, but it is often the case. |
| If they respond with something like "The '91 Jetta?", | | | | People will have lots of other reasons for selling, but by |
| then you would say, "Do you have more than one car | | | | asking this question, you can get a better feel for who |
| for sale?" If they do, you want to know. Don't buy a | | | | they are and what they are up to. They may not tell |
| car from a curber! If instead you ask, "Do you have a | | | | you the truth, but pay attention to the subtle sense you |
| Silver 1991 Jetta for sale?", and they have more than | | | | get in their answers. It may help you to get a clear |
| one vehicle they are trying to sell, all they have to do is | | | | feeling about where they are coming from in trying to |
| say "Yes", so make sure to ask your first question | | | | sell you their car. |
| right. Maybe they just happen to be selling 2 cars, but it | | | | |