When it comes to looking for a Vehicle, “old” doesn’t necessarily mean “out,” especially since buying a used car opens you to endless possibilities. Whether it’s your first time to visit a Japanese used car auction or not, below are some of the things you need to consider as you browse among amazing car deals.

Why Buy a Used Car?

Quality at a Low Price

It’s no secret that buying a used car is way cheaper than buying a brand new one, which by the way, instantly gets depreciated the minute you drive it out of the car shop’s parking lot. If you want to avoid depreciation but you still want to get the best out of your money, looking for a second-hand vehicle from a reliable Japanese used car auction is the best option you’ve got.

Why? For one, a 2 or 3-year-old vehicle isn’t really that different from a brand new car in terms of performance and efficiency. This is especially true since Japanese used cars are known for quality.

Plus, if you decide to go for the older models, you can even have bigger savings. Just don’t forget to review the auction sheet and compare different vehicle models within a specific price range, and you’ll surely be able to get a great deal.

Wider Selection

Not because you have a limited budget, it already means that you need to be chained to low-grade car models and makes. You can always widen your selection by looking into a Japanese used car auction. By going for slightly used models, you can buy better cars that are within your budget range. Want a luxury or a sports car? Don’t tick them off your list just yet. Who knows? You might find the car of your dreams at a low price!

Used Car Buyer Tips: A Complete Guide to Buying a Used Vehicle

Set a Specific Budget

When buying a used car, you can either pay by cash or apply for a car loan. If you decide to pay by cash, make sure that you allocate 10% of your budget on car insurance and possible car repairs.

If, by contrast, you decide to lend money from the bank, it is best that you apply for a car loan before you visit a car dealership so you can make computations and decide based on your monthly earnings. As a rule of thumb, your monthly car expenditures should not be higher than 20% of your monthly profit.

Look for Opportunities to Save

Fact: As compared to a brand new model, a 1-year-old car is cheaper by 27% regardless of how perfect its condition is. But since you are buying a used car, you want to look for every opportunity to save up from your purchase. As a guide, below are some of the most important tips on choosing high quality vehicles on a budget:

• The Smaller the Engine, the Cheaper the Maintenance: Cars with smaller engines have a lower upfront fee. Aside from that, small engines also burn less fuel, making them more cost-efficient, especially if you are just driving around town.
• The Smaller the Car, the Cheaper the Insurance: Cars are ranked in groups ranging from 1 to 50. The lower the ranking, the lower the insurance premium cost. Basically, smaller cars are cheaper to insure than larger ones, so if passenger and cargo space are not really your main priorities, you may want to go small on your vehicle.
  Look into the Car’s Co2 Emissions: Car models that emit high CO2 emissions are subject to higher road taxes, so if you want to do the environment and your pocket a favor, look for a vehicle that produces less than 100 g CO2/km.
• Engines Run by Petrol are Cheaper: Even though engines run by diesel are cost-efficient, cars powered by petrol have a lower upfront fee and are easier to maintain.
• Manual Cars are More Cost-Efficient: If you don’t really mind driving a car built with a manual transmission, it’s best that you choose one instead of its automatic counterpart.

Pick a Car

Here comes the tricky one–picking a vehicle. Out of all the amazing car deals available in a Japanese used car auction and in other car dealerships, how can you narrow down your search?

It’s quite simple. Make a list of the “must-have” car features, along with the negotiable ones. Do you have a big family? Then you’d need a big passenger and cargo space. Is safety your primary concern? Check out some of the best cars that passed crash tests with flying colors. By setting priorities and creating a checklist, you can easily filter your options and make comparisons.

Take a Closer look at Ownership Costs

When it comes to buying a used car, reliability should always come first. There is no sense in buying a cheap car if you will shell out money every now and then for expensive car repairs. So make sure you review the car specifications first and choose models based on their performance and dependability.

Review the Auction Sheet/the Vehicle History Report

A Vehicle History Report and an auction sheet can offer you the transparency you need, especially if you are buying Japanese used cars online. An auction sheet displays important car details including existing scratches, rust and dents. If you don’t know how to read a Japanese used car auction sheet, you can always ask assistance from professional importers like CarUsed.jp.

A vehicle history report, on the other hand, helps you determine whether the vehicle has a clean title or not or if it went through minor or major accidents. Some reports even display data on maintenance and repairs performed on the vehicle, giving you a general idea on the condition of the car.

Find a Reliable Importer

Lastly, find a reliable car importer if you plan to buy Japanese used cars or any vehicle outside your country. CarUsed.Jp is a member of JUMVEA, a government-approved organization in Japan. With CarUsed.Jp, you can spot amazing car deals in a few clicks and swipes.

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