What You Need to Know
- Having multiple former owners is not necessarily a red flag for a used car.
- You do need to look carefully at the car’s vehicle history report.
- Get a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic on any car you choose.
When it comes to used cars, you’ve probably heard that the fewer former owners it’s had, the better. That can be true to an extent, but a car’s current mechanical condition and evidence of consistent maintenance are far more important than its number of owners. Buying a used car is a great way to balance affordability and utility, but you need to do a deep dive into the history of the vehicle before you decide to purchase one.
Why Buyers Prefer One-Owner Cars
If you’re looking to buy a used car, you probably want one with only one previous owner. Nearly everyone does. But not everyone is lucky enough to find this, especially if the car you desire is more than a few years old. There are several reasons why one-owner cars are considered the darlings of the used car world:
- Level of care: If someone buys a new car and drives it for a decade, the car likely received roughly the same level of care — and a similar driving experience — throughout that time. With multiple owners, a car is subjected to various levels of care and a wide range of driving styles, which can negatively affect its long-term dependability.
- Knowledge of vehicle history: Another reason one-owner cars are so sought after is that the original owner, who purchased the car new, likely devoted more financial resources to maintenance and upkeep than, say, a sixth owner who buys the car when it’s 15 years old and has gone through more maintenance and repairs. In other words, one owner probably knows the vehicle’s history better than several owners would.
However, finding a used vehicle with only one owner can be challenging in this market. While the number of used cars for sale increases, prices remain high and supply remains lean. That situation leaves some buyers to jump when a vehicle in their price range becomes available — even if it’s had a half-dozen owners — as long as the car is mechanically sound.
Do your due diligence, including researching the vehicle’s value, no matter how many past owners it has had.
Used EVs and PHEVs With Multiple Previous Owners
A used electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or hybrid car can be a good value, and these models are becoming a larger part of the used market. However, used EV and PHEV shoppers must check battery health and warranty coverage, as replacement costs remain high.
The longevity of any vehicle depends on how well the owner cares for it. For gas-powered cars, timely oil changes are considered the most basic task to maintain a healthy engine. To maintain long-term battery health and minimize degradation, EV drivers should avoid regularly charging to full capacity with DC fast chargers. Unlike oil changes, EV charging habits of previous owners aren’t recorded on a vehicle history report, so it’s crucial to obtain a battery health report.
How to Check Ownership and Vehicle History
You should always look carefully at the vehicle history report when buying a used car. These reports, from services such as AutoCheck and Carfax, provide essential information to help you understand the vehicle’s past. Official activity, such as title changes, registrations, and accidents reported to insurance carriers, will show up. Most service centers will submit maintenance information to history report providers, though it is not required. For example, an oil change from a neighborhood mechanic might not appear on the full report.
What You Can Expect to Find on a Vehicle History Report
- How many owners
- Ownership location
- If the car was leased or owned
- Length of ownership
- Estimated car miles driven per year
- Title history
- How many reported accidents
- Maintenance history
Reports cost about $40. If you’re serious about the vehicle, it’s worth the peace of mind. If buying a used car at a dealership, they usually provide the report free of charge, as do people using Autotrader’s Private Seller Exchange. It’s important not to overlook the finer details in these reports. Be aware that some incidents might not be reported to these sites, so don’t hesitate to ask for maintenance records.
AUTOTRADER PRO TIP: Research a vehicle’s recalls to determine if it has any excessive defects. You can check for vehicle recalls using our sister site, Kelley Blue Book.
Be sure to check out Certified Pre-Owned models when shopping at dealerships. Many carmakers offer higher-mileage CPO programs, providing greater safeguards and assurances for car shoppers.
What Matters More Than Number of Owners
Before buying, always trust your instincts and take the car on a thorough test drive to listen for unexpected sounds, sniff for unusual odors, and look for excessive wear and tear. If anything at all feels off, you need to investigate.
The best safeguard is to find a qualified mechanic for a thorough vehicle inspection. Services like Alliance Inspection Management’s AiM Certify, owned by Autotrader’s parent company Cox Automotive, will come to a vehicle’s location and inspect it.
Be confident before signing any paperwork because, in most cases, you cannot return a car once you buy it.
Is More Than One Car Owner Too Many?
While we do prefer cars with fewer owners, as they’re likely to be better maintained and preserved, you shouldn’t rule out a multiple-owner used car. If the vehicle has a clean vehicle history report, shows evidence of regular maintenance, and passes a thorough inspection by a trusted mechanic, you can feel confident in your purchase. The number of owners should be a factor when buying a used car, but it certainly shouldn’t be the only consideration. We believe a vehicle’s mechanical condition — and the paperwork to back it up — is far more critical than its ownership history.
Editor’s Note: We have updated this article since its initial publication. Doug Demuro contributed to the report.
