As promised, we’ve decided to dedicate this post to a few tips and guidelines on how to safely by a Cat D car. Play your cards right and you could end up with the bargain to end all bargains.
It’s just a case of ensuring you don’t get taken for a ride, if you’ll forgive the rather unfortunate play on words!
Buy from dealers if possible
First and foremost, it’s always better to buy from a registered dealer, if the option is available to you. The reason being that dealers are legally obliged to tell you everything there is to know about the car. By contrast, private sellers are perfectly within their rights to sell vehicles ‘sold as seen’. So if you want to make sure everything is in order, speak to a dealer.
Ask plenty of questions
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as necessary to fill in the gaps. Why the car was written off in the first place, how much damage was sustained, who carried out the repair work, whether the repairs/parts are guaranteed and so on. They don’t necessarily have to answer, but it is still worth asking just in case.
Have an inspection done
It’s worth thinking about the potential value of the crash-damaged car you are considering buying. If it seems like the ultimate bargain, it could be worth shelling out the £200 or so necessary to have it professionally inspected. If nothing else, it could save you from wasting far more money on a car that’s either useless or dangerous.
Order a history check
Just as is the case when picking up any second-hand car, it’s worth ordering a comprehensive history check. The reason being that you never know what might be lurking in its background, which may completely change your mind about the purchase decision. It’s usually simple enough to order a history check online, or even straight from your smartphone.
Beware bewildering bargains
If you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re looking at a nearly new car that appears to have very little damage and yet is being sold for £500, you need to ask yourself why this is the case. Car dealers and sellers in general don’t tend to be daft enough to give away cars that could make them a lot of money. So if the deal you are offered really does seem suspiciously superb, consider a comprehensive car check mandatory.
Avoid vehicles with a damaged chassis
Though it is perfectly possible to repair a vehicle’s chassis, it doesn’t tend to be an easy or cheap affair. In addition, cars that have had their chassis damaged in the past may be fundamentally less safe than those that haven’t. Unless things are repaired meticulously, a damaged chassis can affect everything from handling to overall crash protection.
So as you can see, there’s plenty to take into account when looking to pick up a crash-damaged car. On the plus side, there’s nothing to say you cannot take home something of a bargain, just as long as you’re savvy with the selection process!
