Any Advice? Tips? Warnings? Single Female buying a car interstate in Australia...?

Question

Im looking at taking my daughter and flying to Brisbane and buying a 4wd and driving Back home to Western Australia. Is this a stupid Idea? Would it be normal to ask if I can have a mechanic look at the car before I buy it? - Because Ill be honest, I dont know a thing about cars, but this seems like an awesome idea in my head?

Answer 1

Question 1. Yes and No because sometimes you can get a better deal buying elsewhere but at the same time you will have trouble with the seller if anything goes wrong unless it will be new.

Question 2. You need to have a mechanic check the complete car over for you from bumper to bumper and the mechanic will need to be certified and you will need to get a completed work order as to what he found during the inspection.

Buying a car and being a female should have nothing to do with it but it sadly does and this is what you need to do.

After you have searched around and found what appears to be a good-looking vehicle at a reasonable price, remember to ask many questions.

Why are you selling your car?

How long have you owned the vehicle?

Does the vehicle need any repairs?

How many actual miles are on the car?

Ask if the vehicle has been in any accidents.

Ask to see the documentation, like the registration papers. Then check the model, make, vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number against the papers. If the VIN number doesn't match the registration papers then the vehicle could be stolen. Make sure that the registration is current and not about to expire.

Ask the seller for his address, phone number etc, and match the information against the registration papers.

Ask for the service history on the car so that you can see what kind of care the seller has put into the vehicle.

Ask the seller if there are any outstanding loans, liens, or any other finances still owing on the vehicle.

Ask for all the keys and not just the master key. These can be expensive to replace and besides you don't want any spare copies out there for anyone to just come and drive away with your car using their keys.

Is there an Extended Warranty available?

Ask any and all other questions that you feel you need to. Don't be satisfied with only half answers.

Be absolutely sure that this is the vehicle for you because there is no going back once the deal is made.

If anything in the seller's answers makes you feel uncomfortable, then walk away.