Used Car Evaluation, Chandler AZ

It can be quite the process buying or selling a used vehicle. As a seller you have to get the vehicle ready to sell, advertise it somewhere, and then let complete strangers look at it or even drive it with only the hope that they will buy it. As a buyer, you have to visit strangers as well and do your best to avoid buying a lemon. Let’s say you both make it past all these steps and you get the point where the buyer actually wants to buy and you enter a session of negotiation. At this moment wouldn’t you want knowledge on your side to ensure that you get the best deal for the vehicle?

There are a couple reasons we recommend buying a used vehicle from the owner instead of a new or used vehicle from dealerships. One is that a new car depreciates in value 20% or more the moment you drive it off the lot. If you can get a used vehicle sold by the owner that is in good condition, then it’s likely a better value. Also, dealership sales people are trained to sell, which gives them an advantage over folks who are unprepared. Dealerships can also sell unnecessary add-ons to the final bill, and you may not even know it.

For more on the process of buying a used vehicle, read our article How To Buy A Car.

What Is Included With The Used Car Evaluation?

Inspecting a used vehicle to evaluate it for sale is very similar to other inspections that we perform. We go through the entire vehicle from the outside to the inside, under the hood and lifted up so that we can see underneath. We evaluate the vehicle as if our own mother was buying it. We take the vehicle for a test drive. We test all external and internal lighting and gauges; look under the hood at every vehicle system for leaks and condition of parts, belts, hoses, etc. Then we raise the vehicle on hydraulic lifts to inspect the entire drive train, tires and brakes.

“I can’t describe how helpful the pre-purchase evaluation was when I was buying a vehicle. On one occasion I was close to buying one and I was thinking that I was going to get a good deal, but when the guys at Crawford’s evaluated it they discovered multiple signs that the vehicle had been in accident. There were parts of the body and rear driver side wheel that showed compromised integrity and it probably would have been dangerous for me to drive it on a regular basis. I, the laymen, would never have noticed it because the car looked very nice on the outside.”

–Rex K.

As an added bonus, our shop is a public place, so it might be safer for you to meet a stranger there. Once the buyer and seller are ready to make the deal, we also recommend going to a title shop instead of the DMV. Shorter lines, better service.

How A Used Car Inspection Can Benefit The Seller

When selling a used vehicle it’s just as important, if not more important for you to be informed about it’s current condition as it is to the buyer. If a buyer inspects the vehicle and says there is something wrong with it, wouldn’t you like to know for sure before you let them negotiate a lower price?

Upon completion of the inspection we will give you a certificate stating the current condition of the vehicle. You will have this third-party verification to show that you’re asking for a fair price, and the buyer doesn’t just have to take your word for it. The potential buyer can call us at any time to confirm the findings. That will make it easier to sell the vehicle.

If the vehicle needs repairs, we will do our best to help you determine if the repairs would help you sell the vehicle at a higher price and if the repairs would be worth it. If you’d like to move forward with the repairs we’ll waive the cost of the used car evaluation in many cases.

How The Buyer Benefits From A Used Car Evaluation

The simple answer is that the evaluation will help you avoid buying a lemon. The cost of the evaluation is so worth it, compared to being stuck with a vehicle that needs constant repairs!

As a buyer, you can at least start with the Kelly Blue Book value of the make and model to get a baseline price. Yet, the Kelly Blue Book makes this recommendation based on the assumption that the vehicle is in a certain condition. Even if they give you the option to choose between “fair, good, very good, and excellent” conditions, these still involve an unknown range.

Knowing if there is anything wrong with the vehicle will help you determine if you should actually buy it, and if you decide to buy it then you’ll have the information you need to negotiate the best deal.

Call 480-201-0740 To Schedule A Used Car Evaluation

Whether you’re buying or selling a vehicle, bring it to Crawford’s Auto Repair to get a professional used car evaluation. It could potentially help you save thousands. Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment today.