Back to all

What to Do After You Buy a Used Vehicle in Holland

December 19, 2021

So you've bought a used vehicle in the Holland area. Do you know what you're getting? It is hard to know what you're getting because people in the Holland area sell vehicles for different reasons. Think about why you've sold vehicles. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you wanted to run away from? Maybe it was a little of both.

Used vehicles in Michigan with 25,000 to 35,000 miles/40,000 to 55,000 km on them are often lease returns, corporate program cars or rental fleet vehicles. Most Holland buyers feel pretty confident about these because they're newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

Holland drivers who are planning to own a vehicle for a long time will keep up on auto maintenance so that they can avoid repairs down the road. But, if you know you're only going to have the vehicle for two or three years, you may not be so committed to maintenance. It would be easy to think that skipping an oil change here and there wouldn't ruin a brand new engine. Then it'll be someone else's problem when it comes time to pay for the damage.

It is very tempting for Holland drivers to skip the 30,000 mile/50,000 km service if they know they'll be turning in their leased vehicle in a couple of months.

If the vehicle didn't come with maintenance records, Holland used vehicle buyers need to assume the worst. Most likely the coolant system and transmission have never been serviced. The cabin air filter has probably not been changed and a fuel system cleaning at Tuffy Holland may be in order.

You'll want Tuffy Holland to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used vehicle inspection at Tuffy Holland is well worth the cost.

And if your “new” used vehicle has been driven an even longer distance, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner's manual or talk with your service advisor at Tuffy Holland about what should have been done. Please don't forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.

Tuffy Holland will help you with a plan to take care of services and get the rest caught up. If your budget won't allow you to take care of everything right away, we can help you prioritize your needs and get it taken care of over the next several months. And remember to keep your maintenance records. They'll help you get top dollar on the Michigan used vehicle market when it's time for you to sell.

Tuffy Holland
90 Waverly Rd.
Holland, Michigan 49423
616.394.0880
https://www.tuffyholland.com/

More articles from Tuffy Holland

Not So Hot in Holland

March 30, 2025

When the weather turns cold, it's nice to crank up the furnace and enjoy the heat. But if your home's furnace doesn't work, it's not too comfortable. Same goes with your vehicle. When the heater's not working, things can get miserable. It could also signal some major problems, which we'll discuss... More

How Cool is That! (Coolant level sensor replacement)

March 23, 2025

Your vehicles engine runs hot. It should, since its a series of little explosions that create the power that gets you going where you want to go. To keep the engine cool, engineers have designed wonderful cooling systems that use liquid coolant, hoses, and a radiator to transfer the heat from t... More

When "Oh, no!" Turns Into, "All right!"

March 16, 2025

Things we don't expect happen to our vehicles. And let's face, no one really wants to spend money on an unexpected repair. But if you are putting off going to your vehicle repair facility because you're dreading bad news, you might just be putting off some good news. There was one minivan driver ... More