Questions to ask and information to consider before buying
The adage, buyer beware, may come to mind as producers go to buy a used truck or vehicle. When making a used vehicle purchase there are some things to keep in mind to make the process a bit easier.
Assess Needs
Before purchasing a truck take the time to determine exactly what fits the requirements for the particular operation. Producers will need to determine if the vehicle they are considering buying is the right size for the intended uses. “As far as pickups consider; Is a half-ton okay, or do you need a three-quarter, or a one-ton pickup because you are going to be pulling heavier loads, anhydrous tanks, wagons and things like that? You want to make sure before you start, you know what size you need,” Jim Crawford, University of Missouri Extension Field Specialist in Agricultural Engineering, said.
Check Condition
Additionally, look at the milage and the condition of the vehicle. “A lot of times people say, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter what it looks like.’ Actually, it does. Vehicles can rust out quickly and as the body rusts it can impact how it handles and operates,” Crawford added. Once the body of the vehicle starts to deteriorate it can affect other aspects of the vehicle.
Observe the overall condition and how the owner has cared for the vehicle. “If it is trashed inside and outside, if the cab is dirty, and if they haven’t taken the time to clean it up then that would be a red flag to me,” Crawford said. If owners aren’t going to take the time to clean out the vehicle before selling it, then it could be an indicator of how they addressed or didn’t address regular maintenance and service of the vehicle.
Check to make sure everything is working, and no warning lights are illuminated. Also, determine if there will be any additional expenses needed immediately after buying the vehicle, such as new tires. Take the vehicle for a test drive and if it has 4-wheel drive make sure it works.
Examine battery and fluids
Look to see if the battery posts exhibit any corrosion, this can be an indicator of whether the owner has done any preventative maintenance on the battery. Another area to check would be the oil and transmission fluids.
If there is a dipstick for the transmission fluid, pull it to see how the fluid looks. Is it is burnt or normal in color? If it is brand new transmission fluid, that could be a red flag. Consider why the owner would change the transmission fluid right before selling the vehicle.
The same applies with oil. “How a truck or vehicle has been cared for will greatly affect the reliability once you purchase it,” Crawford stated.
Key Questions
There are some questions to ask the seller when buying a used truck or vehicle. How long has the seller owned the vehicle? Has the owner had to do any repairs? Has the owner done any major systems work such as replacing the alternator or transmission? How many miles has the owner put on the vehicle? Is the seller aware of any problems? Why are they are selling the vehicle?
Bill of Sale
Creating a bill of sale can be helpful for tax purposes. The bill of sale should include the seller’s name, buyer’s name, date of sale, purchase price, as well as the year, make and model of the vehicle. Both the seller and the buyer should sign the bill of sale. The bill of sale can be a general form printed out from an online version or handwritten on a piece of paper.
