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10 Best Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

2020 Volkswagen Passat

Buying a used car can be significantly less expensive than buying a new car. But, if you’re trying to get the best deal, then there are some questions to ask a dealer when buying a used car. Not sure what to ask when buying a used car? Check out this guide from Suntrup Volkswagen, so you can go shop for a used car knowing what used car questions you should ask. Then, visit our dealership near St Louis to find a used car that you’ll love at a price that’s well within your budget.

What to Ask When Buying a Used Car: Top 10 Questions

There are plenty of questions to ask a dealer when buying a used car, but Suntrup Volkswagen has narrowed down the top 10 questions to ask, so you can get the most information about your potential upgrade without spending too much time shopping around St Peters. Here are the top 10 questions to ask when buying a used car:

  • How Was the Car Maintained? Ask about the prior maintenance history and driving history of the vehicle. You should be able to access the vehicle history report, which should tell you everything you need to know about its history.
  • Is the Title on Hand? If you’re shopping at a dealership, then this shouldn’t be a problem, but sometimes, private sellers may have trouble providing the title, which is a red flag.
  • Are the Service Records Available? Be sure to ask about the service history or to see any receipts for service to make sure that the vehicle has been somewhat serviced and maintained recently.
  • Can I Have a Mechanic Inspect This Car? If the seller or dealership allows, you should have a qualified mechanic take a look at the vehicle to see if the vehicle needs any immediate repairs.
  • Has It Been In An Accident? Usually, any accidents are reported in the vehicle history report, but they aren’t always. Be sure to ask specifically if the seller can prove the vehicle hasn’t been in any accidents.
  • Why Is It This Price? Asking this will help you determine if the price is fair or if the number was just plucked out of the air and put on a price tag.
  • What Features Don’t Function Like Normal? It’s not uncommon for older vehicles to have malfunctioning features like an old CD player. But, if more important, larger features don’t function the way they’re supposed to, then this could become a problem later on down the road.
  • Why Are You Selling the Car? This is an important question to ask when you’re talking with a private seller, but this can also apply to a dealership. Maybe the car has high mileage or isn’t in demand, and the seller is just trying to get rid of it to create space.
  • Would You Drive This Car Across the Country? This could be a stretch, but a question like this will tell you how confident the seller is about the driving capabilities of the vehicle that they are selling.
  • What’s the Ownership History? This will tell you if the car has been through several owners in a short amount of time or if the previous owner hadn’t owned the car for very long.

Have other used car questions? Come on down to Suntrup Volkswagen in St. Louis to peruse our used inventory and ask any questions you may have. We’re transparent about our vehicles, and we’re confident in the quality of the cars in our lot, so reach out to our finance center for any questions.

Find a Used Car With Confidence at Suntrup Volkswagen

Shopping for a used car around Webster doesn’t have to mean settling for something with low quality. Contact us at Suntrup Volkswagen to explore our inventory of high-quality used cars at low prices, and feel free to ask us anything.

 

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