Things to look for when shopping for your next used 4x4 truck online
So you’re ready to take the plunge, you’ve heard all about the great deals available on the Internet for used 4x4 trucks and now it's time to get one for yourself!
Well, although Used-4x4-Trucks-For-Sale.com and EBay strive to make your experience as fruitful and safe as possible, the best way to protect yourself is to do a little prep work.
That way you make sure that you won’t need to use the safeguards that EBay has to help you in case of fraud.
Find out the value of the truck in your town
KBB requires your zip code so that they can determine what the price would be where you live. This way you know if the truck you’re looking at really is a bargain or not.
Head to the web to find a nice used 4x4 Truck
Now that you know what the price range is locally, it’s time to hit the used-4x4-trucks-for-sale.com web site and start checking out the model you’ve chosen. Maybe it’s a Jeep Grand Cherokee or a Dodge Ram whatever 4x4 you like you should have no problem finding one online.
Once you find one that is below the prices you got from KBB it’s time to check out the actual listing its self.
This is where you really need to start scrutinizing things, and be a little suspicious, if something doesn’t feel right then simply don’t bid, there will always be more used 4x4 trucks for sale.
Always keep in mind it’s a lot easier to walk away from a truck before you bid on it rather than afterward.
Time to put on your detective hat and hunt for clues in the trucks listing
First you’ll want to look at the age and mileage of the truck; an average person puts about 15,000 miles on a vehicle per year, if you find one that is well below that average, start looking for an answer as to why it would be so much lower.
If you don’t find a good answer in the description, definitely email the seller about it and see what their answer is. If you don’t feel comfortable with their answer then move on to the next listing.
No VIN number, run don’t walk to the nearest exit!
Next you want to clearly see the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), it’s best if it’s an actual picture of the VIN plate rather then just the number typed out in the description, that helps you know they actually have the vehicle.
If a truck is listed without a VIN number shown, this can be a very bad sign. The truck may have been in an accident, stolen, or the seller may simply not even have the truck.
Some fraud does take place on the Internet and if a seller is not forthright with providing a VIN, you should become very concerned.
Also be sure to write the VIN down because you’ll need it when it’s time to get your AutoCheck® report, more about that later.
Pictures are worth a thousand words
Next look at the pictures, the more the better, some of the best used 4x4 truck sellers will actually make it a point to photograph any damage on the vehicle. That way there are no surprises for you in getting the vehicle and then in having it returned if things aren’t what they put in the listing.
Even if there are a lot of pictures on the listing, it’s always better to email the seller and ask for more pictures. The more pictures you have from many different angles the less chance for a nasty surprise when you get your truck delivered.
Read the description and then read it again
Now it’s time to start reading the description, as with the pictures some of the best sellers are not afraid to point out any dents, scratches, or dings because they’re out to sell the truck, not have it returned from an unhappy bidder, or have a fraud investigation.
Be sure to read any terms or conditions the seller may have, often these are listed on a terms and conditions page separate from the listing, but should definitely have a link for you to click to see them.
Often if the seller is a professional car dealership they will have additional fees shown in this area, such as handling and doc fees that are over and above the sale price on the auction, so read everything carefully, and add this into your decision on what your max bid will be.
Talk may be cheap, but it’s worth more than an overpriced clunker
If after you've read the description, looked over the pictures, maybe gotten even more pictures emailed to you from the seller, you still happy with this truck, Then it’s time to actually call the seller…
This may feel a little uncomfortable for you, but this is the best way to get a feel for whom the seller really is.
Are they actually just trying to sell a good used 4x4 Truck because of some events in their life (i.e. divorce, marriage, kids, etc.), or is it just some dude trying to unload a broken piece of junk at the best price possible. My grandfather used to call that putting makeup on a pig, it might be pretty, but it’s still a pig.
Save any really good questions you have about the truck until you’re at this point. That way you can gauge the sellers reaction to your questions.
Now I’m not saying you should try and jump on them and interrogate them with a spot light, but definitely listen to their answers closely.
Does what their saying make sense as to why they’re selling, how the truck runs, maintenance or upgrades they’ve done?
Let them do most of the talking if possible, people love to talk about themselves and their stuff, use this to your advantage in this deal, get a feel for who your dealing with.
Trust your feelings, they're the best guide you have
I’m sure you can get a feel for if someone is telling you the truth when you talk to him or her. If you feel in any way uneasy about the truck or the person selling it to you, the simple answer is DON’T BID ON IT.
There are many more good used 4x4 Trucks out there. On the other hand if you are feeling good about the truck, you like what you see, you like what the seller had to say, got a good feel for who they are, well then it’s time to do one last thing before you put in your bid.
Get your report from AutoCheck®
AutoCheck® is a service of the Experian Automotive network. Your report will be compiled from title agencies, police reports, insurance reports, and other sources to warn you of any possible problems with your future 4x4 truck.
An AutoCheck VIN Check will show you if the truck has ever been in a major accident, does it have a rebuilt title, has it ever had a role back on the odometer.
You may discover something in the report that even the current owner doesn’t know about, because they didn’t get a AutoCheck® report before they bought the truck.
To bid or not to bid that is your question
Well there you are, you know what you’d pay for the truck where you live, you know what your AutoCheck® report says, you like the pictures, the description looks good, and you had a good talk with the seller.
It’s in your hands at this point, bid and get a great deal, or hope for a better one to come, as long as you’ve got all the things above in line, life should be good, and the choice to bid is easy…
Go get your next 4x4 Truck on Used-4x4-Trucks-For-Sale.com.