The used car market is hopping across the world as more people are trying to be savvy about their finances. That being said, every country has its own little quirks when it comes to the car buying process, so it’s always a good idea to reevaluate what you’re looking for from a car if you’re looking to buy from a specific country. Shopping for used vehicles overseas can be an excellent way to save money, but it does come with a few caveats.
Ghana, for example, has a couple of different factors to consider when shopping for vehicles, and it’s never a bad idea to keep these sorts of things in mind when you embark on your quest for a great deal on a used vehicle. Here’s a step-by-step guide to buying a car in Ghana.
Know where to look for the best deal.
When it comes to shopping around for the best deal on used vehicles, the internet is your best friend. Especially when you’re looking to purchase a car from a country overseas, it’s going to be much more realistic to look at online inventory than to fly out to visit dealerships in person. Online auction websites are a great resource to show you hundreds of cars for sale in Ghana without you ever having to leave the comfort of your home.
As you explore different auction websites, make sure that you understand how the bidding process works. On some platforms, you must put a certain amount of money in an escrow account of sorts in order to fund your vehicle purchase. Other websites may have you pay for the car outright once you’ve won, and still others may actually have another individual represent you at an auction in another country that you can’t be present for. Most websites clearly spell out the auction process on their about or terms and conditions page, and arming yourself with this knowledge can help you avoid a let down if you aren’t comfortable with the bidding process for a car you’ve fallen in love with.
Research the fair value of the vehicle.
Whenever you’re bidding on anything, you need to know the fair value of the item in order to properly frame your budget. Bidding on used cars is no different, and can be even more important since cars range in value and can depreciate quickly. A website like Kelley Blue Book can help you learn more about the fair market value of different vehicles by helping you search out cars based on their condition, make, and model. Knowing the value of the vehicle can help you figure out how much you’re comfortable spending so that you don’t need to worry about being tempted into a bidding war and overpaying. Remember, a cheap car isn’t always the best car. Make sure you’ve researched the condition of the car as well, otherwise you might not be getting the good deal you think you are. There are plenty of dream cars available at auctions, just do your due diligence and you’ll be fine.
Keep international regulations in the front of your mind.
One of the most important things to keep in mind as you shop around for cars from Ghana is to recognize that import and export fees may apply to your purchase beyond normal shipping costs. These sorts of fees are sometimes covered by the dealer and sometimes covered by you, so be sure to do some research prior to bidding on your dream car and thinking that you’ve scored a good deal. For example, Ghana will no longer let you import vehicles over ten years old, so if you’re looking to buy and live in Ghana, you’ll want to keep that fact in mind. That regulation doesn’t apply to exported vehicles, however, which is a good thing, since the rulings about imports have meant that stock in Ghana is generally a bit better than some of the other African countries you might be considering.