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Introduction There are thousands of new and used car sales each year in the Ghana. Many of those vehicles have some 'history', so you need to ensure that you don't buy one that's worn out - or one which has outstanding finance on it.If you read these pages you can minimise the risk of buying a duffer, but as much of the information that relates to buying a used car in Ghana also relates to buying new, make sure you check out our used car buying advice pages.If you buy a used car privately, you're not in as strong a position as if you buy the car from a trader - but there are still ways that you can redress the balance. The key thing to remember is that if something appears too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Buying a Used Car in Ghana – What to Buy Work out what sort of car you need - hopefully it'll be very close to what you want. Don't let your heart drown out your head, as you'll probably only regret it.The older the car, and higher the mileage, the more maintenance it'll need. Parts wear out, so don't expect the car to just keep working without regular servicing. The following should be factors in your purchase: - What type of car and how much space do you need?
- Which makes more sense; petrol or diesel? If you cover over 10,000 miles per year, diesel is probably best.
- Establish what the insurance and servicing costs will be.
- Do you want an automatic or manual gearbox? Self-shifting gears can be a real bonus with today's traffic levels, but cars with an automatic gearbox are always more thirsty.
- Don't necessarily be put off by an ex-company car, even if it has a high mileage. Not only should it have been cared for mechanically (you can check the bodywork and interior easily enough) but most of the miles it will have been running hot. There's nothing worse than a low-mileage car which has been run almost exclusively cold - it's a sure-fire way of wrecking an engine.
Buying a Used Car - Where to Buy There are lots of places to buy a used car; the more legwork you put in, the greater the savings.Buying privately: generally cheapest, but beware of over-optimistic pricing and there's no warranty.Franchised dealers: usually have newer cars in stock, which will often be better, cared for and have lower mileages. The downside is they also charge the most in general.Independent dealers: usually offer the same facilities as a franchised dealer, but the cars tend to be higher mileage. Still a good bet though. Buying a Used Car - Buyer's Beware! There are plenty of dodgy cars out there masquerading as good ones - don't get landed with one. To minimise the risks: - Check the MoT certificate if the car is over three years old.
- Check the registration document; if this isn't to hand, just walk away. The same goes if the details are incorrect.
- Phone the previous owner and ask them about their old car - its mileage and history.
- Check the chassis number on the car matches the one on the registration document.
- Ask for proof that the car has been serviced.
- Make sure you're insured before taking a test drive.
Buying a Used car - The Test Drive You should never buy any car - new or used - without taking it for a test drive first. Try to start the car from cold, and make sure it ticks over happily. Let it warm up and ensure the cooling fan cuts in before taking it for a decent run that will allow you to try out all the gears as well as the major controls, brakes, steering and suspension. While you're in the car, think about the following: - Have the steering wheel and gear knob been worn smooth? Does this tally with the recorded mileage?
- Is the interior undamaged, along with all the glass? Are there any stickers on the windows which may have been put on to cover an old registration number etched onto the glass?
- Check for rust that's been painted over, plus filler in the wheel arches. Once rust arrives, it's very hard to eradicate.
- Ensure all the electrics work - try everything. It's the same with the instrumentation - does it all read as it should?
- Is the exhaust chucking out soot? If so, the engine may have had it, although some diesels can be pretty sooty even when reasonably healthy.
- Does the car drive well, with no pulling to one side under braking? If the car hasn't been used for a while it may need a few miles to settle down - but not a car that's been in regular use.
Buying a Used Car - Basic Checks A few basic checks can reduce the chances of getting stuck with a lemon: - Look closely for dents and scrapes in the bodywork; also check panel fit. Any damage will be costly to put right, so haggle accordingly or walk away.
- Are the tyres okay, with no uneven wear? If they're worn out altogether you'll need to budget for new tyres. If they've worn unevenly it could be poorly aligned tracking or something more serious - such as a twisted body shell because of poor accident repairs.
- Do all the speedo digits line up properly? Are the old MoTs to hand and does the mileage recorded on these forms tie in with what's displayed?
- Does the chassis number (usually at the base of the windscreen on the passenger side) tie up with the one on the registration document? Also check the engine number, which is usually on the top of the block, down the one side.
Are all the keys available with the car? There should be at least a spare and probably a master as well. Lose the only key and you may have to have everything reprogrammed - which can cost hundreds of GHc. Buying a Used Car - Peace of Mind If you buy from a dealer you'll have a warranty, even if it's just for a few months. However, any dealer has overheads so you'll always pay more if you take this route. Depending on the car's age and mileage, the warranty may not be a very good one so read the small print and make sure that you know what's covered.When it comes to buying privately, you need to have your wits about you. There are plenty of dealers masquerading as private sellers and working from home. When you phone up, ask about 'the car for sale' without specifying which one. If they need clarification, they've clearly got several vehicles up for grabs. A few simple rules can save you a lot of bother: - Don't buy a car from someone who will only give you a mobile number, because they'll probably be untraceable if something major goes wrong.
- If a specific time is given for calls to be made, it's probably because the seller is using a public phone box. Phone outside the specified time and see who answers.
- Don't look at a car in the rain or at night - the paintwork always looks great in these conditions.
- Insist on visiting the seller's house to inspect the car; ensure this is at the address on the registration document.
- Weigh up how well kept the owner is along with their house and garden. If they take no care of themselves or where they live, it's unlikely they'll have cherished their car.
Buying a Used Car - Professional Inspections Cars are becoming increasingly complicated and even people who are happy poking about under the bonnet can easily be daunted by modern vehicles. That's why it can be worth calling in the professionals; a qualified engineer with all the right tools and test equipment will give a written report on how good a car is. Such checks aren't cheap but you could end up saving a lot more than that if you're considering buying what turns out to be a heap. If you're a member of a major breakdown organisation you should be able to get a discounted vehicle check, but it'll still be quite a chunk of cash.While such inspections are comprehensive, not all vehicles are eligible. Imports, cars over seven years old or particularly expensive cars are typical exemptions, so you may need to call in a local mechanic to look over one of these instead. If you do call in the experts but then have a major problem, you can claim against the company that did the inspection and there should be some form of financial redress available.A cheap alternative which looks at all the key areas is a MoT. You can put a car through a MoT at any time, and for relatively little money you can establish if there are any serious faults with the vehicle. Buying a Used Car - Sorting Out the Paperwork Before you can make a decision on buying a car you need to ensure that the paperwork is in order. The key pieces of paper you need are:The Registration document tells you the basics about the car's history such as how many owners it has had and who it is currently registered to. Bear in mind that the person named on this form is not necessarily the legal owner of the car. Don't buy a car without one of these and make sure it's a genuine document by holding it up to the light and looking for the watermark If a car isn't MoTed it can't be taxed - and neither will it be insured.The tax disc. Make sure the car has a genuine tax disc and not just a copy of one; look for the metallic strips in the paper. If the tax is about to run out, bear this in mind when negotiating a price for the car.Ask to see the car's service history. Ideally the car will have been maintained by the supplying dealer from new, but what you're after is proof of regular servicing. You can also ensure the mileage goes up in the right stages.You can easily put a car through a MoT whenever you like; you can also buy or cancel tax to suit your needs. That's why the registration document is the most important document of the lot; the name on this piece of paper is the person to whom any speeding tickets or other motoring fines will be sent to. If that person doesn't deserve them, they have to prove why this is the case - and not telling the DVLA of a change in vehicle ownership is an offence. Buying a Used Car - Doing the Deal When it comes to talking turkey, ensure you pay less than the initial asking price. Any seller should set the price above what they're prepared to accept - so don't pay a penny more than you have to. Any discount on the initial asking price is a victory, so don't be too greedy. Once you've settled on a price, remember these points when handing over your money: - Buying privately
- Private sellers are required by law to describe the car honestly and accurately. However, that's the only requirement as the car only has to be 'as described' and you have no redress.
- Getting your money back from a private seller or sorting a problem will be difficult, so check the car thoroughly before buying.
- Use a banker's draft, as paying cash offers little comeback. Any genuine seller will be happy with this.
- Make sure you have everything you need, including all the keys, the right tool to undo any locking wheel nuts and any fobs to activate any security systems.
- Buying from a dealer- A banker's draft is still a good way to pay here, too.
- Dealers have a duty to describe the car accurately and it must meet a standard expected of a car of its age, mileage, price and condition.
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