Be Smart When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can easily be one of the smartest choices you can make. Follow a few simple guidelines to get the best for your time and money.
You’ll spend less for a used car than you would for a new one and if you choose a model that’s three years old or more, you won’t be faced with a majority of the depreciation that can take place. You want to be able to get the most bang for your buck and enjoy the benefits of a car that’s going to serve you well. With that in mind, here are some shopping tips to make sure you get the most out of the used car you purchase.

Set Up Financing Ahead of Time

If you want to avoid the financing offered by a used car dealership, you need to arrive with your own financing in hand. Sometimes, the dealer financing you find will cost you more and have a higher interest rate than what you’ll find when you go to your bank and secure a loan.

Don’t Shop Based on Payments

When you’re shopping for used cars, if you base your purchase on the monthly payments you’ll make, you will make a mistake. Try to choose a shorter loan term, even though the payments will be a bit higher. The car has already been used by someone else and you need to make sure you can enjoy the car and have the loan paid off while still driving.

Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive

You need to make sure you take the car for a lengthy test drive before you purchase it. Strangely enough, nearly 20 percent of used car shoppers don’t test drive the car before they buy it. You want to know how the car operates and understand what it might have wrong with it before you take it home.

Take it to a Mechanic

It will cost you a little bit of money, but you need to take the used car to a certified mechanic before you make the purchase. Some dealerships will offer to pay for a private inspection, but if not, you still need to have this completed so that you know what’s right and what’s wrong with the car.

Negotiate Over the Phone First

Once you’re on the car lot, you are more likely to leave with a deal that you wouldn’t accept over the phone. Having the phone in your hand gives you the chance to negotiate and causes the salesperson to work to get you to drive to their location. Start your negotiations over the phone before heading to the dealership.

Runa History Report

You should have the vehicle history report printed before you buy any vehicle. This report could show you that the vehicle has been in an accident or it hasn’t been maintained properly. Use this report in conjunction with the inspection you have completed and make the smart decision regarding the used car that you want to buy. It’s important that you get the most out of the car that you choose to drive.