Five Must-Have Accessories To Insist On When Buying A Second-Hand Vehicle

Buying a brand-new car, van or pick-up truck offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to choosing colours, engine sizes, styles and accessories. On the flip side, however, you will usually need to pay far more than a second-hand alternative. The good news is, however, that many used vehicles come with a range of desirable accessories included. Things that used to be considered luxurious are now becoming more and more mainstream and readily available on the second-hand market.

Here are five must-have accessories to consider when choosing a used car. Some will be included in the price, while others may push the overall cost of the vehicle up slightly. However, good quality accessories like the following examples can help the vehicle retain a higher value for longer and represent a very sound investment.

Sound system

We all love a good sing-along while driving on the open road, and a car, van or pick-up truck with a good sound system in it will really help you blast out some tunes. Many vehicle owners invest heavily in upgrading or replacing worn-out sound systems, which can still be in excellent condition when they decide to part with the car. If you can take the vehicle out for a test drive, turn the sound system on to see what it is like. How easy is it to connect a smartphone? Tune the radio? Change the controls? While you should never choose a car based solely on its sound system, having a good one already installed is certainly a big plus. Always check out the various components of a second-hand sound system, including speakers, aerials and wiring.

Satellite navigation (‘sat-nav’)

The days when you had to buy a small satellite navigation device, sucker it to the windscreen and pray it didn’t fall off mid-journey are largely gone nowadays. Many cars and commercial vehicles come with a built-in sat-nav system in the dashboard for easy navigation on the move. Advantages to built-in systems, besides the fact that they won’t fall into the footwell at the wrong moment on the motorway, include their larger size for easier viewing, automatic update facilities and added functionality around warnings for queues and delays. Many systems also offer different language and voice options, as well as highly detailed maps and route planning software to guide you on journeys taken pretty much anywhere in the world.

Smartphone connectivity

The dangers of speaking on a mobile phone while driving are well-documented and legislation is in place to discourage this highly unwise activity. However, many second-hand cars now come with smartphone connectivity to allow you to connect your phone to the system and talk hands-free. Safety features are also included, such as an alert system when the phone detects that the car is on the move. Smartphone connectivity also allows you access to your music playlists via Bluetooth, USP or AUX options. No need to keep all of those old CDs in the car now – you can access thousands of tunes at the push of a button.

Floor mats

It may seem like a very basic accessory, but finding a second-hand car with the correct floor mats still in good condition is very important. They catch dirt, debris and other muck from people’s shoes, protecting the carpet and keeping the car’s interior looking newer for longer. What’s more, having perfectly fitting floor mats provides extra comfort and convenience for the driver and their passenger, as they won’t slip around, crease up or get in the way of feet or bags. Always check around the whole vehicle when looking at it with a view to buy to ensure that all the floor mats are present and correct. You may be able to negotiate a discount if any are missing.

Spare tyre and repair kit

Finally, having a spare tyre in the vehicle is an important safety feature. Many modern cars no longer carry spare tyres as standard, replacing them with temporary repair kits instead. Having spare tyres readily available can help save time if you suffer a puncture and need to change the tyre, or call someone out to do it for you. Likewise, second-hand vehicles that include repair kits and equipment, such as a jack and wheel spanner are highly prized. These items are essential for changing a tyre on the move and can be expensive and inconvenient to purchase separately.