Unless you’re a clued-up car geek with an experienced eye and a knack for haggling, finding the right second-hand car (at the right price) can seem like a daunting task.
For starters, the second-hand vehicle market is a breeding ground for con artists; from the unscrupulous seller who intentionally covers up body damage, to professional scammers posting adverts for cars that don’t even exist.
If the seller is genuine, there’s the time and cost associated with travelling to the vehicle’s location. Once you get there, you need to have in-depth knowledge to judge whether or not a car is going to give you hassles down the line.
But even if you don’t know your chassis from your CV joint, buying a second-hand car doesn’t have to be a stressful process. By sending an independent vehicle inspection expert to assess and test drive your prospective car for you, Screan removes much of the risk and guesswork out of navigating the used car market. (We also inspect classic cars, caravans, leisure boats, and non-commercial trailers.)
Here are five ways our pre-purchase vehicle inspection platform makes buying a second-hand car safer, easier, and less stressful.
1. OUR VEHICLE INSPECTION EXPERTS ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND RELIABLE.
When it comes to cars, our ‘Screaners’ know their stuff. Because they’re mechanics and automotive industry professionals, they’re able to ask the right questions, spot potential problems, and ultimately assess whether or not a car is in good condition and selling at the right price.
Screaners carry out vehicle inspections based on a comprehensive 60-point vehicle inspection checklist. This checklist covers the vehicle’s exterior, interior, engine, licensing and registration, vehicle history, and a test drive sequence specifically designed to weed out engine or handling faults. They also take hi-res images of any minor issues (like worn upholstery or small dents and scratches) and 360° walk-around imagery, all of which is included in your buyer’s report.
Find out more about Screaners here or read this interview with one of our Screaners.
2. WE HAVE SCREANERS LOCATED COUNTRYWIDE.
Even if you’re confident and knowledgeable enough to view and assess a used car yourself, sometimes the vehicle you’re interested in is located in a different province. The time and expense of travelling to view a vehicle in a different province — which might turn out to be unsuitable — is prohibitive. Considering that there are more second-hand vehicles for sale in the Gauteng area than anywhere else in the country, this is a dilemma often faced by thousands of buyers living in other provinces.
We have Screaners located in every major city in South Africa. Using our pre-purchase vehicle inspection service means that you no longer have to limit your vehicle search to your immediate surroundings, which opens up a much wider pool of possible vehicles.
3. SCREAN PROTECTS BUYERS FROM SCAMS AND CON ARTISTS.
Unfortunately, the second-hand car market is rife with fraudsters. Used car buyers need to be wary of ‘bait and switch’ scams, odometer tampering, and unscrupulous sellers who conceal body or engine damage. When meeting an unknown seller in an unfamiliar location, it also pays to be extremely cautious as your personal safety may be at risk.
As seasoned car inspection pros, Screaners actively check the vehicle’s body for mismatched paint that could indicate a hidden history of accident damage. They’re also wise to used car scams and protect prospective buyers from scammers. For example, Ronald Nkonjwa, a Screaner covering the Gauteng area, says that he’s helped at least two customers avoid falling prey to bait and switch scams. “There were two incidents when I went to Screan a car and the car wasn’t even there,” he says. “They told me ‘the car is coming’, but then they brought a different car altogether.”
4. SCREAN MAKES BUYING A SECOND-HAND VEHICLE EASY.
When you book a Screan vehicle inspection service, your assigned Screaner does all the heavy lifting for you. All you need to do is provide the link to the online ad, or the seller’s contact details if it’s an offline ad, and your Screaner does the rest.
Your Screaner will contact the seller, make the viewing appointment, travel to the vehicle’s location, and thoroughly inspect and test drive the car. They’ll then send you a comprehensive buyer’s report, including 360° walk-around imagery. You’ll be kept up to date via email every step of the way through this process.
While our buyer’s report stops short of telling you whether or not you should go ahead and buy the car, it provides you with essential insight into the car’s condition (in easy-to-understand layman’s terms) and flags any potential problems or concerns. With this information in hand, you’re able to make a confident, informed decision on whether or not to purchase the car, without the risk of getting hoodwinked or buying blind.
5. WE’RE COMMITTED TO FAST TURN-AROUND TIMES.
We know that quality vehicles get snapped up fast, so from the moment your Screan service is booked, we work fast. Your Screaner will arrange the viewing at the seller’s earliest possible slot and send back your report as quickly as possible once the inspection has taken place (usually within two hours).
Got your eye on a used vehicle but need an expert’s opinion before you buy? Book a Screan vehicle inspection service now or get in touch for more info.
