Whether you’re looking for your first-ever car or treating yourself to an upgrade, it is worth exploring the market of used cars for sale in Dubai, UAE. For many buying a used car in Dubai may prove to be a daunting task due to the perception of risk associated with buying a used car from someone you may not trust, in many cases this concern is justified. We’ve all heard stories of how someone ended up with a lemon and we’ve seen ‘too good to be true’ prices but we feel with a little bit of effort anyone can save a lot of money buying a used car in Dubai.
Relatively newer used cars may provide you with the same performance, features, and specs as their new counterparts, but at a fraction of their price. When confused about where to start from and find your dream car? You can buy through CarSwitch and avoid all the hassle but here’s a short guide on all you need to know if you want to go at it yourself.
- Figure out what you need. Although there’s no limit to the number of added features cars come with nowadays, focus more on functionality. Ask yourself a few questions to figure out the type of car you need, such as how many passengers you’d be carrying, which features are needed (e.g., navigation) and how important is warranty & service contract to you.
- Know your budget. Sketchy sales agents may convince you to buy a car that has left you smitten but you can’t realistically afford. Knowing your budget allows you to filter through the options available and think through your decision carefully.
- Look around. Visit dealerships in the Dubai like Al Awir or check out ads on Dubizzle.com or the classified sections of newspapers like Khaleej Times and Gulf News.. Buying a used car in Dubai from a dealer means paying a 25-30% premium compared to buying straight from the owner!
- Don’t skip the inspection. Was it love at first sight? Here’s what you need to watch out for:
- Engine: Look under the hood to check for oil seepage.
- Exterior: Look for signs of accidents – look for misaligned body panels or use a paint meter to check for a paint job.
- Tires & Brakes: Check the remaining life of tires and brake pads
- Interior: The pedals will reveal the car’s wear and tear and, while you’re at it, make sure that the odometer reading makes sense
- Test drive: A test drive can tell you more about the car, such as whether the key turns easily, the car is properly aligned and all the components are fully functional.
- Reserve the car: Once your heart is set, the seller will expect you put to down a deposit to reserve the car. This can be a few thousand dirhams and will typically be without paperwork. Make sure that the seller is a trustworthy person and you put in writing (e.g., email) conditions under which the deposit is refundable (e.g., the car’s condition changes, the bank denies your loan application).
- Arrange financing: Cash deals are the easiest and life will get substantially more complex if you want to finance. Make sure that you speak with the relationship manager and fully understand the process (e.g., getting valuation certificates, arranging financing). Also, this can take 1-2 weeks so make sure that the seller realizes this.
- Seal the deal. Everything in check? If you’re ready to close the deal, you can do the transfer at the RTA. Make sure you have all the documents without you read our article on xxx for details
Feel overwhelmed? Well, you don’t have to! At CarSwitch, we have made it our mission to make buying a used car in Dubai easier for you than it has ever been!
