Buying a used car is a really good way to save money and at the same time choose a really high-quality vehicle that will be in no way inferior to a new option. You will be able to purchase a vehicle that is 2 or 3 years old in absolutely perfect condition, but it will cost about 20-30% less than a new one. Moreover, the maintenance of a used car is much cheaper compared to an option that has just been taken off the assembly line.
It is worth mentioning separately about used cars under $500. This price category is actually very popular lately. At first glance, it may seem that for such money you can buy only a piece of metal without wheels and an engine, however, this is far from the case. There are a huge number of worthy copies that can satisfy most of your needs that relate to a personal car. Yes, it is true that this price range is characterized by vehicles with a lot of technical and legal problems. But this is only for those who do not know how to search and are not ready to make efforts and efforts. With a careful approach, everyone will be able to choose for themselves a used car under $500 in good condition.
What to look for when choosing a used vehicle under $500:
- On the car body
Make sure the car has not been repainted after the accident. Check if the shades of the paint are different, if there are any traces of soil in the body cavities, on the windows and rubber seals. When inspecting the body, note areas with traces of rust, especially on doors and fenders. The centers of corrosion can be under the rubber seals of the glass, do not forget to check. It is important to check the width of the door and bonnet gaps. If the joints have a different width, then the car has probably been in an accident, and the owner decided to hide it. If the vehicle has been in one or more minor accidents, it’s okay. You will never find a used car under $500 without damage. The main thing is that the selected instance does not have a broken body geometry, since it can be dangerous to operate such a car.
- On the engine
Traces of oil and rust under the gearbox and engine are the first sign that something is not right with it. Check hoses and belts for cracks. Using a dipstick, we check the level and density of the oil, inspect the filler cap. There should be no water or metal particles on the probe, but plaque on the cover.
A serviceable engine runs without whistling, grinding and rattling sounds. Extraneous noise is a sign of a malfunction that threatens to turn into a major overhaul. Check if the engine runs stably at idle speed. In any case, you will have to have additional funds for the first service of the car for $ 500, because in this price range there are no hassle-free copies. However, you should not buy a vehicle whose engine requires major repairs.
- Test drive
Make a route in advance, include road conditions close to your daily trips. If you are stuck in traffic jams every day, test your car at the nearest busy intersection. If you often ride on country roads, look for similar ones. On the road, listen to see if the car makes suspicious sounds, immediately check with the seller for their reason. Pay attention to how the car behaves on the road, whether the steering wheel pulls to the side, whether the car keeps a straight course.
Check if the steering wheel vibrates at high speed. Does the car pull to the side when braking, and how does the suspension react to obstacles. A test drive will help identify shortcomings that were not noticed during external and internal examination. A reality check will give you a complete picture of the condition and capabilities of the vehicle. In any case, with a used car under $500, you will notice certain flaws during a test drive. The main thing is for you to decide which ones you are ready to put up with and which ones you are ready to eliminate in the near future.
- Checking legal restrictions
This is a must-have item that will allow you to either make sure that the car is worth buying or make you refuse it. Check the vehicle with a VIN decoder. Thanks to this, you will be able to find out if the car is stolen or if it has been banned from registration. If so, then you should refuse to purchase such a copy, because you will not be able to register it, or even worse, it will be confiscated by the authorized bodies.
3 Best Sites to Buy Used Cars
In the modern world, the search and purchase of cars have become much easier and more convenient due to the existence of special sites and services designed specifically for this. Such services greatly simplify the search for the right vehicle and make the process of making a transaction as easy as possible. Let’s take a look at the best of them:
- EpicVin
This is an incredibly convenient platform for finding and buying cars. It is worth saying that there is a huge amount of used cars under $500. This site is incredibly popular among residents of all America. In addition, it is very convenient that it offers you the best vehicles to buy that are close to you. EpicVin offers a huge selection of used cars from a wide variety of makes and models. There are sedans, station wagons, hatchbacks, sports cars, vans and more. In addition, the site offers a filtering function, which makes it possible to search for the desired instance in accordance with the selected parameters. Moreover, if you like several cars, you can easily compare them using this service. EpicVin is a really high quality website for finding the best vehicles at the best prices.
- abetter.bid
This is a used car auction site that offers a huge variety of different makes and models for purchase at the best prices. abetter.bid gives you the opportunity to purchase over 200,000 vehicles. It can be not only cars, but also boats, motorhomes, motorcycles and much more. If you choose this service, you will be able to participate in all transactions online, wherever you are. Moreover, there is delivery right to your home, which means you do not have to travel somewhere on your own to pick up the selected copy. Well, if suddenly you have any problems, then round-the-clock support will be happy to help you solve them.
- sca.auction
This is an online insurance vehicle auction that offers hundreds of thousands of different options for you to buy, including a huge number of used cars under $500. The service has more than 170 car platforms across the country and allows you to bid when and where you want. In addition, sca.auction will be able to deliver the selected car directly to your door. The simple interface of the site will not cause any difficulties for anyone and will help everyone figure out how to use it in just a couple of minutes. And if you have any questions, the round-the-clock support service will quickly help you solve them. sca.auction is a reliable and very popular online auction that allows a huge number of people to make the most profitable deals.
Each of the above sites has many advantages and allows you to purchase the vehicle you want on very favorable terms. This may include cheap cars under $500, which are quite in demand lately. Therefore, if you want to buy yourself a good used car at a good price, then you should turn to the help of one of the services mentioned here.
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