Get the jump on used car dealers

File photo.

File photo.

Published Jun 13, 2013

Share

Ever stood in the showroom of a second-hand dealer and wondered whether the “lovingly cared-for, low-mileage, low-priced” car you had your eye on was the real deal?

With the salesman amping up the pressure by insisting you’d better snap up this great bargain “right now” before some other lucky buyer whisks it from under your nose, you sometimes feel like a contestant on the Deal Or No Deal game show.

But there’s a way to swing the balance of power back in your favour. A new smart phone app allows you to punch in the vehicle’s registration or VIN number right then and there, and it’ll instantly give you the trade and retail value, and alerts relating to the vehicle’s odometer reading and accident history. And, if you want to dig deeper, it’ll give you a full Verification Report on the vehicle’s pedigree including its financial and accident claim history.

COOL NEW APP

Called the CarValue app, it’s offered by TransUnion, the company better known in the motor industry as the publisher of the authoritative Auto Dealers’ Guide – the car value “bible”.

Customers can ascertain the value of a specific car, bakkie or motorcycle (as long as it’s not older than 25 years) and also check whether it’s been reported as stolen, been in a major accident, had the odometer turned back, and other aspects that are handy to know when you’re buying from a dealer, at an auction, or through a private sale.

When we “test drove” the app not every vehicle we searched for was listed, but TransUnion says the database is very large.

Downloading the app is free, but each Valuation Report costs R10 while a full Verification Report (which includes valuation) costs R140.

The CarValue app is available on most smartphones and tablets including Android, Apple, BlackBerry, and Nokia Lumia devices.

Alternatively, the same information can be accessed from any computer on the www.carvalue.co.za website. -Star Motoring

Related Topics: