So you’re looking to buy a car? Buying used has a lot of cost benefits, if you come prepared and knowledgeable. Here are some things you should consider during the purchasing process.
Set a Budget. You want to make sure you get what you want for the price you want. When buying used make sure you factor in costs like inspections, new tires, winter tires and any other costs that might go into the car.
Make sure you take the car out for a test drive. More often than not, if a deal seems to good to be true, there’s probably something wrong with the vehicle. When you’re taking it out for a spin, make sure you test everything: the speakers, the AC, the breaks, and any other features that the car may have. If the dealer tells you that you can’t take the car for a test drive, that is a huge red flag.
You should get the vehicle checked out by a mechanic. Even if the test-drive goes great, there’s always something you may not be able to catch. Sending a third party mechanic over to take a look may end up saving you thousands of dollars wasted on repairs in the future.
It’s also important to run a Vehicle History Report. In order to do so you just need the car’s VIN number so that you can see whether or not the car has been in any accidents and whether it was salvageable. If the dealer refuses to give you the VIN number, consider that a red flag.
Do your research. If you walk into a dealership without doing any research you may end up paying way more than you need to. You can go online and find out what certain models are going for, and what can decrease/increase the value of a car. It will also help you determine what features you should be willing to pay more for. If you do your research you’ll be in a better spot to negotiate a price.
Look around at multiple dealerships. Even if the thought of going into 5 different dealerships makes you want to not buy a car, you have to do it. The more options you have the better off you’ll be and the less likely you’ll be to feel ‘buyer’s remorse’.
Investigate the Dealership’s Reputation. Go online to the dealerships Facebook page, or even read their Google Reviews to determine whether or not they are reputable. If there are a lot of negative comments, you might want to reconsider buying from them.
