About Me

Buying a Used Vehicle

Welcome to my website. My name is Frances Reed. If you’re considering buying a used car, you are in the right place. I recently had my first experience with purchasing a used car and want to share some tips I learned along the way. When I began my search, the important things were color, comfort, and low mileage. I ended up with a green vehicle (which isn't on my favorite color list,) it has over 150,000 miles driven, but it is comfortable. I was very fortunate and had a friend who’s a mechanic come with me to test drive vehicles. Tip number one: be sure you have a mechanic check out vehicles before you buy. I hope I can offer you some valuable information here.

Archive

Tags

Latest Posts

Search

Buying a Used Vehicle

Salvage Vehicles: Are They Worth The Gamble?

by Connor Ferguson

If you are in need of affordable transportation and you are a bit of a gambler, buying a salvage vehicle may be a good choice for you. A salvage vehicle is simply one that has been in a crash and "totaled" by the insurance company. The insurance company takes this action when the vehicle has become a serious liability problem or because repairs would cost more than it is worth. If you or a partner have mechanical ability, taking a chance on a salvage vehicle could really pay off.

Price

Each year, 400,000 vehicles that have been totaled by insurance companies are sold for salvage and put back on the road. Many people are afraid to purchase these cars, and, as a result, the price for them is low. They often go for as little as twenty or thirty cents on the dollar. Of course, the possible savings can be an illusion if repairing these vehicles costs much more than they are worth or if they cannot be satisfactorily repaired at all. 

Purchasing

If you are not an expert, take one with you when you go to the salvage yard or salvage auction to look over the vehicles. Also, know the categories for damage. An "A" designation is the lowest one possible, and it signifies horrible damage. Vehicles labeled a "B" have bad damage, and "C" and "D" vehicles are the ones with the fewest problems. Vehicles with only body damage are the best buys. Always avoid those with bent frames because they are likely to cause you endless problems.

Difficulties

You will need to pay cash for a salvage vehicle since no financial institution is likely to finance one. Also, no matter how well you rebuild your car, it will always carry a salvage title, making it worth less than cars with "clear" titles. Getting insurance may also be a problem. Not all insurance companies will cover salvage vehicles. If they do, it will not be full coverage. You will have to make do with liability insurance. 

Buying a salvage vehicle is a gamble, but one that can pay off if you choose carefully. Only buy a vehicle that has mostly body damage or other problems that can be repaired for a reasonable cost. You may need to put a great deal of work into restoring your automotive find, but if you or a partner has mechanical ability, you can end up with a reliable car that will keep running for years. 

For more information, contact Fox Valley Iron Metal & Auto Salvage Inc or a similar company.

Share