Since many vehicle values drop by 40% or more in 3 years, buying used can be a significant money saver and there’s a lot to choose from because of the number of vehicles coming off lease is increasing. Finding a good used vehicle isn’t a matter of luck, but rather the result of good research and inspection.
Pre-Owned Vehicle Inspection
Identify Reliable Vehicles
First, identify which makes and models are the most reliable. Edmunds, JDPower, and Consumer Reports websites rate vehicles for reliability and will give a value of each vehicle so you know the price range. Once you identify the makes and models you are interested in it’s time to look, drive and inspect. There are many things you can visually inspect yourself, here’s an excellent resource to help you with a preliminary inspection.
Inspect by ASE Certified Technician
The last step is to have it inspected by an ASE certified technician. ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence and is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of vehicle repair by testing and certifying automotive professionals. From their website: “In addition to passing an ASE Certification test, automotive technicians must have two years of on the job training or one year of on the job training and a two-year degree in automotive repair to qualify for certification. The tests are challenging. Only two out of every three test-takers pass on their first attempt. To remain ASE certified, professionals must retest every five years to keep up with ever-advancing automotive technology.”
Our inspection costs only $150 and because we are both a mechanical and body shop, an ASE Certified Master Technician performs the comprehensive mechanical inspection and one of our Collision Technicians also inspects for collision damage, rust or improper repairs. If the owner doesn’t agree to have the inspection done, there is probably a hidden problem and consider passing up the vehicle.
Carfax reports
Just because a Carfax report doesn’t show any accidents or repairs, does not mean that a vehicle has not been in an accident. We did two studies on cars our shop had repaired and found 60% did not turn up on a Carfax report. Carfax lists the sources they receive their data from. Addison Auto Repair & Body Shop has chosen not report collision repairs to Carfax.
Advantages of a Professional Inspection
Most importantly a professional inspection can prevent you from buying a vehicle with major problems. Secondly, since the inspection will usually reveal some items that need attention and the price of the repair can usually be negotiated off the asking price. Finally, if you do buy the vehicle, you have a good baseline for what maintenance expenditures may be over the next couple of years.
