Believe it or not, there is actually a lot to know about the reliability of used cars. While in the past looking at a car’s make and model would be enough, there are now many other factors to take into consideration when determining whether or not you’re getting a good deal. These factors include vehicle age and mileage, accident history, maintenance history (including records), manufacturer recall information, as well as prior insurance claims.
Vehicle age and mileage
The fresher the vehicle the less likely it is to have experienced a mechanical breakdown. This is one of the main reasons why it’s important to inspect a vehicle’s maintenance records. In addition, newer cars tend to be less expensive than older ones, making them a better deal at face value. The problem however is that later in life a car can become more reliable and also easier to repair and maintain because there are more parts available for sale. This then makes a late model used car a better deal. The best example of this is the Toyota Corolla which has been in production since the 1960s and whose parts are readily available as well as inexpensive.
Vehicle history reports
Another thing to consider is the vehicle history report. This is a report that can be obtained from Carfax.com or Experian that details the complete history of a vehicle, including accident and insurance claims, as well as any manufacturer recalls associated with it. Whether or not you should get a vehicle history report is debatable but if you’re looking at older used cars in san diego (especially those over 10 years old) then it would definitely be worth looking into.
Maintenance records
Maintenance records are extremely important because they help you figure out the type of car that will fit your lifestyle. If you’re someone who is a stickler for routine maintenance and always takes the vehicle in for oil changes and tire rotations then a late model used car will probably be more expensive than one with newer parts because it does not have many wear items yet. Maintenance records can also help when trying to predict how well a vehicle will withstand damage as well as how long it will take to repair it.
