Main Risks of Buying a Used Car from the US

Having a car shipped from the US or Canada is one of the most lucrative options for buying a used vehicle but you have to be careful and watch out for potential mistakes that can ruin any great deal. Let us take a look at the main risks you may encounter when buying a used car in America.

1. Buying a car from a “gray” dealer.

The first mistake beginners make at American car auctions is purchasing a car from second hand dealers who are not famous for being the most honest people on the market and have been known to hide flaws and defects of the cars they resell.

In order to get a really great deal on a car in the US, Columbus advises focusing on the lots of insurance companies. As a rule, these are large entities that avoid anything that could harm their reputation.

There are a number of insurance auctions in the US with a large fleet of cars damaged in accidents or written off by insurance companies for other reasons.

The biggest among them are:

• Copart;
• Insurance Auto Auction (IAAI);
• Manheim.

The first two sites feature used/damaged cars. They are available to the general public but participation for individuals is a bit more expensive than for businesses. Manheim is a closed auction that is intended for large traders who purchase slightly damaged used cars in bulk.

Columbus customers can purchase cars at discounted prices on all the listed marketplaces using the company's dealer account. The auction commission for you will be only 4% of the lot price instead of 12% that a regular customer would pay.

2. Wrong order of doing things

Novices who are not too familiar with US insurance auctions often suffer from being inconsistent which may result in delays of the car purchase and delivery and unnecessary additional costs.

The first step in buying a used car in the US should be:

2.1. Finding a suitable lot and winning the bid on a car.

Seems like a no-brainer – you click a button, and win a bid on a car. However, you need a lot of experience in order to choose a car without hidden damage, to spot an option that does not require a costly repair, is best equipped with various features, and can be resold at a profit in the future.

Columbus experts will help you make the right choice - they will pick out a car with minimal damage, check the price relevance using specialized services like Kelly Blue Book, NADA, etc., and estimate its resale prospects. And just to be sure they will also do a vehicle inspection on the spot.

2.2. Studying the car’s history including manufacture date, number of owners, mileage, and maintenance and accident information.

2.3. Assessment of the damage from the accident and the cost of parts and repairs.

This approach is the only way to make sure you get a lucrative deal. In case you don’t have the necessary experience, it is best to go through a professional.
Columbus managers will order a car history check using specialized online services, make a preliminary estimate of repairs, and help you buy spare parts in the US or other countries at the best possible price.

3. Ignoring lot history

Some dealers and auctions provide maintenance reports for the cars they sell but one of the best ways to check the car’s history is to order a report from specialized web services. Some of them are free, like the National Insurance Bureau VIN Check - all you need to do is enter the vehicle's VIN.

However, if you are looking for detailed car history, for instance the number of previous owners, recorded odometer readings, data on accidents involving the car, its maintenance, and so on, it is best to contact Columbus. The company's experts will help you get comprehensive information about the vehicle to make sure you get the best car for the money.

4. Miscalculation of costs and fees

Not all used cars from the US would make a great deal when shipped to Georgia. Finding out whether it would can only be done by carefully calculating the car price, shipping costs, repairs, customs fees and other related expenses.

Contact Columbus managers today and they will help you find out whether a car is worth bringing to Georgia. The company’s partners have access to a personal online account that allows them to keep track of all expenses for the purchase of vehicles using the best calculator in the field of Georgian auto trading.

5. Delivery through an unscrupulous logistics company

Small logistics companies have agreements with certain ports, and even if the purchased car is located far from these, it will be brought to a "partner port" which will negate any savings on delivery.

Columbus, thanks to partnerships with the largest carriers, ships vehicles from five US ports - Newark, Savannah, Houston, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis, which allows for the most efficient logistics.

In addition to a large selection of ports, our US partners provide the following services:

• taking additional photos of the car before loading it onto the ship
• packaging dismantled parts
• placing an absorbent to prevent fungus and mold from excess moisture during shipping

6. Careless approach to customs clearance

Another reason for potential additional costs is picking the wrong person to take care of the customs clearance procedure.

A competent forwarding agent will promptly organize the unloading of a container and a professional broker will take care of the customs clearance in 2-9 days but if you do not have a trusted expert, the process can stretch out for weeks and result in unnecessary expenses.

Columbus can help you resolve any issues in a timely manner thanks to many years of experience in shipping. The company managers will recommend experienced professionals and help you avoid additional expenses.

7. Hasty decision making / buying under pressure

You should never buy a car under pressure. You may fear that someone else will get the car instead of you and you might miss out but keep in mind that buying a car is a serious matter. According to CNBC, even in the US, the average consumer uses a car for 11.5 years.

Avoid the rush in buying a car! If you want to be sure, trust the experience of professionals at Columbus – they have been helping car enthusiasts avoid mistakes in purchasing vehicles from the US for many years and will do the same for you!