Trucks have always been the classic American vehicle. They are sturdy, look strong and give off an impactful impression on whichever road you drive them on. That is why many people love buying trucks, especially Chevrolet trucks who are known for their quality and standard. Trucks are amazingly versatile and can be used for various purposes.
If you are looking to buy a Chevrolet truck, look no further than Richard Chevy, a car dealership known for premium quality and amazing service.
However, buying a new truck might not be the best option for everyone. If you are on a tight budget, there is no harm in buying a used Chevrolet truck. If the vehicle is properly cared for and maintained regularly, a used vehicle can be as good as a new one.
Thing is, most people don’t know what to look for when buying used trucks. Many think if it looks good from the outside, and runs fine at first, the vehicle is good enough for purchase. That’s absolutely not true.
There are several factors that you should consider before buying a used vehicle. If you don’t, then chances are you’ll be stuck with a truck that will make you pay for repairs and services more than what you bought it for. Some people have no problem in looting you off your money for a degrading vehicle, and that’s the truth.
However, we are there for you. In this article, we’ll give you pointers and tips that will help you identify a properly maintained vehicle from a neglected one and allow you to make your first economically successful used car purchase.
Things to know before buying a used Chevrolet truck
The last thing you want to do is make an uninformed purchase, so here are some things that you should know before you buy your very own Chevy truck –
Try to get some warranty
It’s not a new thing for used cars to still come under warranty. If you can get a used truck that still has a few years of warranty on it, then that’s a really sweet deal you are getting your hands on. However, it’s also necessary that the seller has proper maintenance records of the car for the warranty to be valid. Dealerships just won’t take any broken car you give them and repair it because they are not responsible for damage that’s caused by negligence rather than normal wear and tear. Ask the seller for maintenance documents and service records, ensure they are valid, make their duplicate copy and you can have no worry about claiming that warranty if need be.
Get the car inspected and verified
If you are dead set on buying a car that you liked and want to have a 100% guarantee to see if everything is working properly, then we heavily recommend hiring a car technician to do it for you. These technicians are found at dealerships and can offer their services offline outside the dealership for an extra charge. Of course, this is all assuming that your seller is willing to let his car be inspected.
If you really like a car, talk to the seller about inspecting it with an expert’s eye and set up a time and place to do it. If your seller is reluctant to get the car inspected, consider it a big red flag that there is something really wrong with the car and that you should be probably moving on. Even though the inspection might cost quite a bit, it’ll save you tons of money later on for repairs and replacements on your truck.
Look out for broken parts
Before buying a used truck, get it on a test drive to a lengthy road of your choice. Make sure that the engine isn’t making any sort of noise, the indicators are working properly and you can’t sense any vibration. We bring the vibration point up because used Chevrolet trucks are often said to have weak transmissions and broken software. The best thing to do in this case is drive it hard, and when it starts vibrating, pull the brakes and put it on neutral.
If the vibrations persist, the problem is serious. If they don’t, it’s fixable… kind of. Many people will tell you different stories of the vibration problem and some had success fixing the problem with relative ease while some did not. You can still go for the car but it can be risky. If uncertainty bothers you, we suggest going for another used truck other than the one you chose.
Rust on the car makes it a bust
Trust us, the last thing you want on the car you buy is rust. Rust is the prime sign of improper maintenance and negligence on the owner’s part. If you spot paint bubbles, corroding metal, and oxidized blisters, our recommendation would be not to walk away from the car but run away from it. Rust makes a car inoperable. Rust would be especially something to look out for if you are looking for your car in a northern climate than the southern one since the roads in the north are often covered with a salt coating which can easily corrode your car if not cleaned properly.
Also, rust sometimes isn’t even visible on the outer layers of the vehicle. If it doesn’t look rusty, doesn’t mean it isn’t. Always ensure to examine proper maintenance records for the truck. Trucks which are rust-proofed on a regular yearly basis are the golden grail for used truck buyers and those trucks are the one you should be on the lookout for.
Conclusion
Buying a used truck can be a tricky business. There are several factors you need to consider and keep in mind before you buy your first truck. Hopefully, the tips we gave in this article gave you an idea of what you should watch and what you should avoid. If this article helped you out, please consider following our website for regular updates as it will help us out immensely.
