Tips For Buying A Used Car In Hawaii (From A Previous Owner)

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Are you looking to buy a used car from owners instead of from dealerships? This can be a more viable option than buying from a dealer, especially when you want to save a bit of money. Dealerships tend to like making a profit on each deal, while owners often just want to get rid of their car so they can buy a new one. 
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However, the problem is that such a deal can also be filled with many potential problems. You can end up with owning a lemon instead. That’s especially a problem in Hawaii, where many cars wear down faster because of the saltwater in the breeze. To avoid any potential problems, here are some tips to keep in mind:


1.  Start off by buying from people you know. You can use Facebook and other social networking sites to see if family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances are selling their cars. When you know people you’re buying from, they’re less apt to pass off a lemon on you. Also, you may get a good deal on the price if they know that you’re buying it for your own use. 

Even if the people you know aren’t selling a car you’d like to buy, they may know others in their own social circles who may be selling their cars too. A friend of a friend is better than a total stranger. 


2.  If you’re buying from a stranger (or even buying from someone you know), you start off by checking the VIN. Check the VIN for yourself, and then check it through the free National Insurance Crime Bureau database. If the VIN checks out here, you can then check out the VIN further through vehiclehistory.com. This is still a free option.

When there are no problems still, you can now use AutoCheck and CarFax even though this can be a bit expensive. It’s still worth the expense. You can, however, get a discount by running several potential cars at once. 

​3.  Hopefully, the car you want checks out. The next step is to pre-inspect it. If you know what to look for, you can do this yourself. Read up on signs of submerged or flood-damaged vehicles, as disasters such as the recent one in Houston can increase the chances that you may get a submerged vehicle that you absolutely don’t want. 
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Your best bet here is to bring along a qualified mechanic with you to inspect the car. Again, this is another expense that’s worth the investment. A pro can find problems that an amateur like you may miss. Such problems, if you can live with them, can be sued to drive the price down. 
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4.  Check the prices of similar cars. This will give you a nice idea of what these cars are really selling for. 
All these tips for buying a used car from owners boil down to two things. First, you should buy from the most trusted people. Then when you buy the vehicle, check it out as if you don’t trust the seller. By combining these two approaches, you can minimize the risk of getting a lemon for your money. ​