How to Negotiate for a Used Car to Get the Cheapest Price
Buying a used car can be an alternative if you want to own a car but have a limited budget. Besides being relatively cheaper, the performance of used cars can also be just as good as long as the car has a good usage history.
How to negotiate for a used car is one thing that needs to be considered to get the cheapest price. Usually, cars sold as used will definitely have some weaknesses.
The potential weaknesses are what you can use to lower the selling price of your desired car. The goal is nothing less than to get a used car price that meets your expectations and budget.
Here are some tips for buying a used car by looking at the weaknesses that you can use as a "weapon" to reduce the selling price of your dream used car.
1. Determine your choice
Buying a used car should be adjusted to your needs. Determine your choice before coming to the showroom or seller so that when you are on-site, you are not tempted by cars that turn out to look more attractive.
Also determine what features are available in your desired car. For example, power windows, AC condition, and various safety features like ABS and airbags. By determining your desired car, you will find it easier to select the cars you will look at later. Don't forget to also look for information on the price range of cars in the market to avoid the feeling of "why is the price so high?".
2. Don’t appear too eager
This tip is quite common in buying and selling transactions. Try not to appear too eager when negotiating for your dream used car. Such reactions from potential buyers can influence sellers to stick to the initial car price. After all, they know that if a potential buyer is very interested, they will pay any price.
In fact, if price negotiations occur, the discount given by the seller tends to be minimal. At most, the price might only decrease by around Rp1-Rp2 million.
3. Check the completeness of vehicle documents
One thing that greatly influences the selling price of a used car is the completeness of vehicle documents. Don’t hesitate to negotiate for a lower price if the tax validity period of your desired car is almost expired or has even passed its validity period.
Sometimes, you may find cars that are priced cheaply but have tax arrears for several years. You can negotiate a lower price according to the formula of one and a half times higher than the costs that need to be incurred to manage the vehicle tax.
For example, if you want to buy a used car from 2017 with nearly expired tax. The tax amount if you want to extend it is around Rp 4 million. So you can negotiate the car price to be Rp 6 million cheaper on the grounds that you need extra costs to manage the car tax.
4. Check the exterior and interior of the car
Every car has a different maintenance characteristic. There are cheap used cars with reliable engines but require more costs for body repairs, interior, and even exterior. Make sure the used car you want to buy is still in good condition so you won't be burdened with maintenance costs later on.
For the exterior, pay attention to the car body from all sides. Are there any scratches, rust, or cracked paint? Also check the car's exhaust; if there are oil leaks, it could be a sign of engine damage.
The interior is equally important. Check every panel, seat condition, lights, dashboard, including features, audio systems, and entertainment that are still in good condition or not. You can negotiate the price according to the condition of the car found, citing repair costs after buying the used car.
If necessary, it’s best to bring a friend or relative who understands car conditions to be more confident in choosing your desired used car.
5. Check the car engine
If the exhaust is clean, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check the car’s condition. This is very important; try asking the seller to start the car engine and observe if there’s anything wrong with it.
Then open the hood and check the engine block for oil stains or not. Check for any potential leaks in the engine partition as well as the condition of the battery to see if it’s still healthy or not.
Considering that car repair costs are not cheap, if you find some oddities, negotiate the price of your desired car to be 1.5 times higher than the estimated engine repair costs.
6. Check the condition of the car tires
The key to lowering the car price next lies in the condition of the car tires. Considering that the price of standard car tires is around Rp1.5 million, try multiplying that by four plus the spare tire. If the car tires are no longer in good condition, you can negotiate for a lower price than the initial price.
7. Test drive the car
If possible, try to ask for a test drive from the car owner. This tip aims to make you as a buyer feel more confident. By doing a test drive, you can personally experience driving your desired car.
This test drive also allows you to know the actual condition while the car is in motion. Drive the car with various maneuvers, from slow to fast speeds. If you find anything odd, don’t hesitate to ask and negotiate the price according to the car's condition. Because the more shortcomings you find in the car, the higher the chance of getting your dream car at the lowest price.
8. Don’t force it if it’s not meant to be
Searching for a used car is certainly not as easy as buying clothes from an online shop. If various negotiation tactics have been launched but you don’t find clarity on the expected price, it’s better to let it go.
Don’t force yourself to buy a car if the money isn’t enough. Perhaps this is what is called "not meant to be." Remember, a car is an asset that can be used for the long term. Therefore, in choosing and buying it, you can’t just wrap it up. There are several considerations that must be adjusted to your needs and desires.
Furthermore, another thing to consider besides recognizing the condition and performance of the car is the credit service. You will often encounter several showrooms offering used car credit services.
It should be noted that although this service provides convenience in transactions, credit is always burdened with interest, and that interest is debt. Also remember, a car is one of the assets whose value depreciates every year. Estimate how much the down payment is, the monthly installments, and the credit term.
You need to equip yourself with a wealth of information regarding the types and prices of your desired cars in the market. Although in reality, buying a used car will be more profitable because the depreciation on used cars tends to be slower than buying a new car.
Thus, here are some ways to negotiate for a used car to get the cheapest price. If the price, budget, and condition of the car are already suitable and meant to be, what are you waiting for? Just wrap it up!
Author: Dinno Baskoro
