Used Car Buying – How To Avoid Buying a Used Car Lemon

Used car buying has never been a popular pastime and it certainly isn’t very fun, but if you know what to look for, you can alleviate some of the stress.

It’s unclear exactly why the term “lemon” is used to describe a used car in bad condition. Some think that the term is from early 20th-century slang where a lemon was someone who was a loser. Others believe the term was popularized from British slang, referring to a hustle. Maybe today’s definition of the word is a combination of both.

Sadly, not all used car dealers look to protect buyers from a poor decision. These used car dealers try to hustle shoppers into buying low-quality vehicles at high prices. While your local used car dealership may not be one of these lemon dealers, it’s always prudent to know what to look for in order to get a great deal on a quality used car.

Here are several tips you can use to avoid buying a lemon from the used car dealers in your area:

Do Your Research While Used Car Buying

There’s so much information available online these days that there’s no excuse for going into a car dealership loaded with information. Make a list of the kind of features you want, which makes and models have great reviews, and with what kind of budget you’re working.

As you explore used car lots, classifieds, and auto dealer websites, look into any vehicle that catches your attention. You can compare prices for similar models, read reviews, and learn about any potential downfalls or recalls.

Most dealer websites include free vehicle history reports, so you can even learn about previous owners, maintenance, and accidents.

If Buying Privately, Do A REVS Check

You might find an amazing deal on a great car in your town on an online classified site or even in the local paper. If the person selling the car has an unpaid loan, it could cause trouble after the sale. A REVs check is a way to ensure that a vehicle isn’t stolen, has a history of water damage, that the odometer is accurate, and that it’s not still under someone’s financing.

Go to the REVs website and enter information about the car to get the information you need. Don’t rely on the paperwork provided by the owner.

Luckily, a reputable used car dealer is legally obligated to verify and guarantee that the purchase is on the up and up.

Inspect and Inspect Again When Used Car Buying

There are plenty of great checklists online for how to look over a used car during a test drive. Make sure you look over the entire vehicle and check that everything is in operating order.

When possible, have a qualified mechanic also inspect the vehicle. This may cost you a small fee, but it’s well worth it to avoid going home with a lemon. The mechanic will look for things you may not notice or be able to check.

If you get a seal of approval from your mechanic and everything else checks out, you might have yourself a deal. Used car dealers often have options for extended test drives that allow shoppers to have their own inspection completed. In other cases, you can request paperwork from the dealer outlining any work they’ve done on the vehicle before it went for sale.

Ultimately, if you do your research and take time to inspect a vehicle, your chances of buying a lemon are almost non-existent. That’s also why it’s critical that you shop with tried and tested used car dealers in your area.