4 Things to Look Out for Before You Buy a Second-Hand Car

Buying a second-hand car is an important decision and you need to make sure you tick every box along the way. Here are a few things to look out for.

VIN - Make sure the second-hand car’s 17-digit VIN number matches the registration papers.

Debt - Cars can be used as security for loans. It’s possible to buy a car that is security for another person’s debt. You can check the details of a car at the Personal Property Securities Register.

The car’s history - You can check if a vehicle has had any major crash repairs by looking at the vehicle history report. It’s also worth getting it inspected independently.

Finance - Always look to use an independent finance broker to organise your car finance. Dealer financers are less likely to be working with your best interests in mind, which will typically result in higher repayments and/or interest rates than you need to be paying.