When shopping for a used vehicle, the number of owners it has had in the past is one of several details to consider, but it is rarely a deciding factor. Many shoppers look for one owner vehicles as a sign that it has been well cared for, but a multi owner car can be a fantastic investment, and a one owner can have its share of troubles. Know the story and the state of your potential purchase.

Why One Owners Appeal to Shoppers

Many shoppers will feel safe knowing that the car has only had one previous owner. The previous owner may have kept detailed records of the vehicle, including maintenance and services, so a shopper gets a sense of the car's history going back to its first mile.

That said, this can be little more than a possibility, and no more than what the previous owner may have maintained. A one owner car could mean that the owner neglected the car, drove it into the ground, or used it for short, frequent trips that caused more wear and tear than a driver would normally put on a vehicle.

Look Beyond the Owner Count

Maintenance records and service records tell a more interesting story than who has owned the car. Look for proof that the vehicle was kept up to date on its services, including changing fluids, rotating tires, replacing brakes, and replacing worn parts.

Mileage and the age of the car also play a role, as well as the car's accident history.

The length of time that the car has spent with each owner can tell an interesting tale as well. Multiple owners who kept the car for a reasonable amount of time each are par for the course, but an unusually high turnover rate could mean trouble.

Was the car unreliable, or did the owners just keep finding themselves outgrowing their vehicle? The same sort of questions could be asked regarding geography, as a car that has seen use in a variety of climates and regions might be more worn down than its maintenance records might suggest. The car's general present mechanical state and cosmetic state are worth consideration as well.

Evaluate Its Current Condition

What matters most when it comes to a used car is the one you are looking to buy. Look at the car's body to spot dents, mismatched paint, corrosion, and signs of welding. Examine the car's interior to ensure that the seats, dashboard, controls, carpeting, and electronics are not unduly worn.

Take a test drive and pay attention to the car's feel, including how the powertrain responds to input, how well the brakes slow the vehicle, and what noises the car makes. Suspension noises and warning lights on the car's dashboard can be telling as well.

A professional mechanic can provide more insight, if the condition of the car based on the owner's history has you questioning what you are considering. A pre-purchase inspection can uncover potential maintenance issues that a shopper may not have the tools to find on their own.

For example, a shopper may find a five-year-old car with three previous owners to be a better value than a five year old one owner car if the three owner vehicle has been well maintained. Proof of maintenance and a clean inspection can speak louder than a thorough service record that a one-owner car is missing.

Using Vehicle History Reports Wisely

Vehicle history reports can help shoppers to put a car's history in perspective and understand what questions they should be asking about a given car's past. The best reports will highlight the owners, mileage, accident history, and title history of the car, as well as any maintenance, service records, or geographic history the vehicle may have.

Keep in mind that the report is only useful for the information that it does have, and it should not be considered a definitive or complete assessment of the car's condition. At best, it can raise red flags that the shopper should investigate further.

Make the Decision Based on the Whole Picture

When it comes to the number of previous owners in a car's history, it is up to the shopper to decide if the vehicle has been properly maintained and if its condition is right for their budget and needs. Shoppers should consider its maintenance, mileage, age, accident history, length of ownership by each owner, geographic history, and the present mechanical and cosmetic condition.

Rather than considering if a car has too many, or not enough owners, a shopper should instead seek to ensure that the car has been well maintained and is in good condition.

Monster Motors shoppers can look at a car's maintenance, mileage, and condition, and compare it to the car's owners and history to make their choice. The right purchase is not necessarily the one with the fewest owners, but the one with the best combination of history and present state.

As Monster Motors provides options for shoppers to investigate, it is up to those shoppers to make their own decision. A potential follow up call to action would be to direct shoppers to Monster Motors' inventory and offer them the chance to review each car's history and maintenance before making their purchase decision.