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Checklist when buying a used car
efore buying a used car, establish your need and use for the car and where you are going to drive it from and how many passengers or luggage you want to carry because this will help determine what kind to buy.
What you need to know:
- Before buying a used car, establish your need and use for the car and where you are going to drive it from and how many passengers or luggage you want to carry because this will help determine what kind to buy.
Where you are buying from
Vicent Lutaaya a mechanical engineer and the Managing Director of Triangle Auto Repairs garage at Kavule recommends that you weigh the options on where you are getting the car from; is it from a car bond, a showroom, the internet or from a friend or brokers.
He says these considerations are critical because some options might not be safe. Lutaaya advises, that youn look at the options and settle for the safest and follow the right procedures.
You might go to the bond because there is no middle man or online because it is a better deal but regardless of the option, or due to a limited budget, one buys a car that has been used on Ugandan roads.
“These are usually referred to as third hand cars and with each hand, there are more challenges especially the car that has passed through many hands. If the car is not brand new, consider the condition of the used car you are buying because a used car to some extent is someone else’s problem. The problems vary like from the colour of the car or the age of the car or a technical fault and the owner decides to sell it off.”
Additionally, Lutaaya suggests,
“It is important to determine the extent at which the car was a problem to the previous owner in terms of its technical state but also determine whether it has an accident history as this makes it less safe. You need to identify the history especially its repair and service history. If it’s from Japan, try getting an interpreter to read its manual for you so that you know the car’s history. If possible, get a mechanic or a technical person to go with you and they check it.”
