Buying a Used Car? Know what to look for
For most people, buying a used car is a significant purchase. It often involves a substantial amount of money, and naturally, you want one thing above all else: to buy a car you will enjoy for years to come.
At the same time, it can be quite difficult to determine exactly what to look for. Is the mileage logical? How has the car been maintained? Has the car ever been in an accident? What is the condition of the battery in an electric car? And perhaps even more importantly: how do you know if the car you see in the photos looks just as good in person?
At Carvendo, we believe you shouldn't have to face that alone as a customer. We believe a customer should be well-informed before buying a car. That is why we guide you throughout the entire purchasing process.
From searching for the right car to the moment it is delivered to your home. It all starts with the question: which car actually suits you? A car that looks beautiful and fits your budget isn't automatically the best choice. Perhaps you mainly drive short distances, cover a lot of miles, or frequently need a large cargo space. Maybe electric driving is interesting for you, or perhaps a petrol car currently better suits your needs.
That is why at Carvendo, we don't just look at the car you like, but also at how you intend to use it. We advise customers to think carefully in advance about the number of miles they drive, the type of trips they make, and what they find important. Think about comfort, space, performance, fuel consumption, charging options, maintenance costs, and, of course, your available budget. This way, we try to prevent you from discovering later on that you actually needed a different car.
A nice advertisement is a good start, but it never tells the whole story. When you are interested in a car through Carvendo, we therefore examine all available information about the vehicle.Think about the mileage, the age, the trim level, and the available maintenance information. A car's history is also important.
Maintenance history and accident history are important when purchasing a car
A car with a demonstrably well-maintained history generally inspires more confidence than one about which little is known. That is why we advise customers to always pay attention to the maintenance history and, where available, invoices and service records.
The same applies to accident history. A car that has had damage in the past is not necessarily a bad purchase. Damage can be repaired professionally and according to the correct procedures. Our main concern is that you know exactly what you are buying.
An electric car requires different attention.
Range and battery condition (state of health) are important for an electric car
More and more customers are choosing electric cars. In these cases, we also advise looking beyond just the range stated in the advertisement.
With a used electric car, for example, the condition of the battery is important. We also look at factors such as charging capabilities, the presence of a charging cable, and the remaining warranty. We also advise customers to take their own usage patterns into account.
An electric car that is perfect for someone who mainly drives at home and in the local area might be a very different choice for someone who drives hundreds of kilometers every week.
And what about a petrol or diesel car? With a car with an internal combustion engine, maintenance and wear and tear are important points of attention. Think, for example, of the engine, gearbox, clutch, timing belt or timing chain, brakes, tires, and air conditioning. That does not mean that you as a customer need to be a technical specialist yourself.
A test drive remains valuable
We always advise customers to take a test drive whenever possible. A test drive is not just intended to discover whether you enjoy driving the car. You also get an impression of the car itself.
How does the car shift? How does it brake? Do you hear any strange noises? Does the steering feel normal? Does the air conditioning work? And perhaps most importantly: does this car feel like the right car for you?
At Carvendo, we therefore advise customers to take advantage of the opportunity to view the car at the supplying dealership and take a test drive. We think that is only logical. Our car companies are our partners, and they know their cars and their inventory. Moreover, the dealer is the party that delivers the car to the customer and is also the point of contact for the warranty.
An online purchase does not mean you are on your own. At the same time, we understand that not everyone is in a position to drive to a car dealership. That is why at Carvendo we make it possible to go through the purchasing process online and then have the car delivered to your home. In doing so, we believe it is important that buying online does not mean you have less certainty about the car.
Our delivery experts are here to help
When a customer chooses to have the car delivered to their home, the car is checked by our delivery expert upon collection. We do not do this because we assume that something might be wrong at our car companies. On the contrary. Our partners are the companies that supply the car and prepare it for the customer. The check by our delivery expert is an extra moment to ensure that the car is handled properly on the way to the customer and can be delivered according to the agreements made.
When collecting the car, we look at the bodywork, among other things. Are there any new scratches or small dents visible? Are there any noticeable color differences? Do bumpers and other body parts fit neatly? Are there any parts that seem to be misaligned?
We also look at the body seams. These should be neat, tight, and straight and not visibly misaligned. With this, we mainly try to prevent damage that occurred during transport or between the final preparation and collection from only being discovered by the customer.
We also check whether the car has been correctly prepared for delivery. For a car with an internal combustion engine, for example, we check whether the relevant fluids are properly topped up. For an electric car, we check whether the car is sufficiently or fully charged according to the agreements made.
After that, we look at the interior. We check for damage, scratches, parts that are not functioning properly, or noticeable wear and tear, among other things. The floor mats are also checked: are they still neat and intact? Furthermore, we look at the tires and rims and the general condition of the car. And of course, we also find the presentation important. A car that is delivered to a customer's home should simply be neatly cleaned and well-maintained.
Always at least 12 months MOT and 12 months warranty
We also believe the preparation of the car is important. If the car has recently had an MOT, we also look at the general condition of the car and whether it has been neatly prepared. Our focus here is not on re-performing a technical inspection.
The MOT is the responsibility of the car dealership and is carried out by an authorized party. Every car purchased through Carvendo has at least 12 months of valid MOT and comes standard with a 12-month warranty. In addition, you won't have any maintenance costs for the first 12,000 kilometers. We primarily check whether the car as a whole is neat and ready for delivery as agreed. This keeps responsibilities clear: the dealership supplies the car and is responsible for the agreements regarding the vehicle and the warranty.
Carvendo guides the customer through the purchase, financing, or lease process and takes care of the car check and home delivery. We are also your point of contact should anything not go as expected at the dealer during your warranty period.
Buying online doesn't have to be impersonal
Only when everything is in order and our delivery expert has completed the inspection and confirmed everything is correct do we take the car. We then drive to the customer for an extensive home delivery. We consider this perhaps one of the best moments of the entire process.
The customer has selected and purchased the car online and then sees it for the first time right at their doorstep. We take the time to look at the car together and explain the most important features. As far as we are concerned, buying online doesn't have to be impersonal at all.
A good purchase starts with trust. A used car remains a used car. It is allowed to have signs of wear, and no two pre-owned vehicles are exactly the same. That is why we advise you to ask questions about the car's history, maintenance, any damage, the warranty, and the condition of the vehicle. Would you like to take a test drive? We recommend visiting the supplying dealer to take your time looking at and trying out the car.
Unable to visit the dealer? With Carvendo, you can opt for home delivery without a test drive, during which our delivery expert will carefully inspect the car one last time before it is driven to you. In this way, we work together with our dealerships toward the same goal: a customer who not only buys a car but, more importantly, receives their new vehicle with a great feeling.
That is what buying a good used car is all about for us.