7 used car buying tips to make the entire process smooth and easy. We have step by step instructions to make the purchase a breeze.
Used Car Buying Tips
Buying a used car is a process that requires you to take very specific steps to get the maximum savings. If you look at it in this step-by-step way, you will never again overpay for a vehicle or get stuck.
Buying a used car requires a bit more homework, but in the end can be quite rewarding. We have broken the process down into helpful steps that anyone can easily do.
With so much information readily available online, you can confidently walk into the car dealership ready to negotiate. Take a little extra time and utilize these easy tips.
The savings will add up and you will be so glad you took the extra time. You will feel well prepared for the entire car buying experience.
Here are seven important buying used car tips to follow the next time you need to buy a used car:
1. Know your Budget in advance and never stray from it
Going outside of your budget is a surefire way to get buyers remorse. Determine your top dollar before you ever even begin shopping. Stick to it regardless of the cars that come your way.
There are many different cars for sale and more will come available. Never feel as though a better opportunity will not present itself. It always does if you are patient.
If you will need a car loan, make sure to be aware of the interest rate and loan terms. You want the monthly payment to be within your budget for the auto loan. It is a good idea to stick to the range of car payment you need.
2. Do your homework on the model
When you identify the vehicle that you are interested in, it then becomes very important to learn about the car. Research the car online to learn all you can. Dig deeply into the different models and figure out common problems that they might have.
Now that we are online as a society, it is very easy to learn a great deal of information about pretty much anything. Do your homework on the make and model of the car before you ever even consider the car purchase.
It is also a good idea to contact your insurance company and make sure the coverage is affordable. Various makes and models can greatly alter the insurance charges. You do not want any surprises later.
3. Get a vehicle history report
The options are endless today for getting a vehicle history report. These reports are extremely helpful when it comes to learning about the title history of the vehicle, previous wrecks and odometer readings.
I know that CarFax does a nice vehicle history report, but really you can get one almost anywhere. This is great because you don’t want to buy a used car that has had a lot of problems.
4. Get their price first…always
When you first contact the seller, get their price up front. This will help you with negotiations later by knowing this information. It also gives you an idea of the amount of cash they are looking for.
Ignore anything they say about the price being firm or their bottom dollar. This is simply codewords for their hope that you will be too dumb to negotiate a good deal.
5. Have your mechanic check it out
Take the vehicle to your own mechanic and allow him to check it out as thoroughly as possible. This is not going to guarantee you a perfect automobile, but a car inspection will certainly will rule out most of the major problems.
If the vehicle history report comes back clean and your mechanic certifies that the car seems in good shape, you are well on your way to making an offer.
Get your mechanic to test drive the car.
6. Check for service records
The final step before making an offer is to ask them for the service records and any repairs done to the vehicle. This step is not necessarily a deal breaker but it can certainly play into negotiations.
A car that is well-maintained and has all the service records to back it up is going to hold a better value than one that does not. If they are missing the service records but the car still checks out okay, you can use that as a bargaining chip in your favor.
You might also want to ask about any remaining extended warranties on certified pre owned vehicles.
7. Offer a price that allows you wiggle room
Now that you have done your homework, it is time to make an offer. Always allow yourself plenty of room to negotiate and offer a price well below what they are asking.
The reason for this is because a large portion of sellers will be willing to go lower but they are not likely to take your first offer. Offer an extremely low price of the car and then work your way from there
Try these easy tips and tricks.
Buying a used car is going to save you a lot of money and these used car buying tips will save you even more. You can confidently head to the car dealerships in search of the best deal.
With a few easy steps, you are guaranteed to get a great car without sacrificing your budget. Follow each step to ensure a mechanically sound and great priced car.
We can’t wait to find out the car you decided on. Please leave a comment letting us know.
