Used Car Buying Guide Kenya

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December 22, 2023
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Admit it, we are all full of emotion when purchasing a car. After a hard time, we can finally use our money to invest in a tool that will change our daily lives for the better. And without a doubt, a vehicle is a good investment, both as a new or used cars in Kenya.

However, there are many things to notice when buying a used car in Kenya that new buyers do not know. For that reason, this is our used car buying guide for Kenya. 

3 Main Things to Consider Before Buying a Used Car In Kenya

When it comes to a vehicle with several hundred kilometers traveled, it is necessary to take precautions so that our experience does not turn into tragedy. That is why we went with some experts in the field who helped us collect these ten basic tips to consider before purchasing a used car.

Analyze your budget

First and the most important thing to consider before buying a used car is to analyze the budget. There are numerous future factors that we might not remember at the moment, so it is better to sit down and calculate everything.

To be more precise, buyers must be able to answer these questions: What is your budget? Are you looking for a new or used car? What is the most crucial factor of the car that we want? What are the features that we do not need? Among these questions, we also need to consider the repair cost.

With sporty, luxury, or even common cars, car owners need to save some money in case the parts are damaged and need to be repaired. Do not forget that many car brands have high services as well as spare parts that are very costly. If you own discontinued models, they are even more expensive and could be a real nightmare. 

buying a used car online
Buying used cars is easier than ever in usedcars.co.ke (Photo: usedcars.co.ke)

Carefully check the car’s condition

The second thing we need to do is to check the condition of the car. If you want a used car, this is the most essential step. In situations when you find a perfect car with good condition and a good price, I guess you are really lucky. However, this might not always be the case. So here is what you need to know if it is a good vehicle or not. 

First of all, if this car has problems, it might have poorly worked paint that you can easily notice. 

Second of all, if this car just fixes backlights or headlights, you can easily tell since it is hard to hide these car components. Third of all, car buyers can check the spaces between the fender and fascia’s side. We need to see if this car is out of square or not. So if these are different, that means they just take this car to a mechanic’s store to have a repaired blow. 

If you are looking for a vehicle that is older than 10 years, you need to consider the corrosion factor. This means the trunk, glass, as well as the rubbers of the door’s frames are starting to crack. This means a bad time for drivers when it’s raining. 

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While you are checking, it is important to ask for a pre-ride. Notice all the noise, the smell, the smoke when you are starting and accelerating. If there is white smoke, black smoke, or blue smoke, you can ask the seller to acknowledge the issue.

After that, car buyers must look under the car. If the automobile drips water, oil, antifreeze, or any type of fluid, there might be leaking containers, broken hoses, or tanks which all need to be taken care of. 

Avoid vehicle from large lots

Last but not least, car owners should get away from large lots when purchasing a car. Normally, the big markets or coyotes aim to sell cars, no matter the state and condition. For that reason, these sellers can’t be honest.

what to check when buying a used car
If you want a used car, checking before buying is the most essential step

To be more specific, car buyers can expect a lot of makeup words and lies to sell vehicles. Even when you find something wrong, they will tell you that there will be adjustments. In situations like this, it is very easy for expert buyers to recognize coyotes. 

For that reason, it is our recommendation to go with pre-owned car agencies or guaranteed selling-car websites like UsedCars.co.ke

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