Important Things to Do When Buying a Used Car
Many people nowadays choose to purchase secondhand cars since they’re usually less expensive than brand-new ones. However, if you’re thinking of buying a used vehicle, you must take several important steps before you can enjoy the benefits it offers. One of these is to transfer the car title to your name within the recommended time frame, which is around 30 days in Texas. You can visit your local DMV office to transfer the title but, if your schedule is always full and have limited free time, you can also get the help of companies that offer title transfer services. Aside from having the car title transferred to your name, you also have to do the following:
Line up your financing
This isn’t necessary if you’re planning to pay for your car in cash. However, if you aren’t, it’s best to secure financing from a trusted lender before you start shopping around for a vehicle. This way, you’ll have a clear idea of what your budget is and avoid going for vehicles that are beyond your price range.
Do a road test
Always ask the seller if you can test-drive the car. Doing so will give you a feel of how the vehicle works and see if it suits your needs and preferences. Be wary of sellers who won’t let you do a road test; more likely than not, they’re selling a car with flaws that they don’t want you to discover.
Get the help of a certified mechanic
Doing a test-drive will only confirm that the car works now — it won’t necessarily assure you that it will work tomorrow and the following days. So, before buying a secondhand car, you should have it checked by a licensed and reputable mechanic. This way, you’ll know about the overall condition of the vehicle and find out if it has any issues that require expensive repairs, and you can use this information to decide if it’s worth buying or not.
Use these tips to successfully buy the best possible secondhand car! If you’d like to get additional advice, or if you’ve already bought a used car and need help with transferring its title to your name, reach out to Houston Title Services. We are based in Houston, TX, and we offer professional and dependable title transfer services to our customers. Give us a call now at (832) 346-2347 to learn more about our solutions!