How to Buy a Used Car
Buying a used car can be a daunting task. Even if you know which used car model is right for you buy, you still want to be sure the particular used car you want, is all it should be. There are some tips I would like to share with on how to buy a used car that should help ensure you are getting the deal you are expecting. With my help, you really do won’t need to know much about cars, just know what to look for when buying a used car.
The first part of how to buy a used car is to find one that will suit your needs. First, you will want to figure out your specific needs and what you intend to use your new used car for. Do you need a used car to haul lumber and tools or one that is safe to shuttle the kids back and forth to school?
Once you have narrow downed the type of used car you need, whether it is a used car, used truck or used van, you now need to pick a make and model. There are a couple of ways to go about this, and I suggest you visit both. All it will require of you is a few mouse clicks to get all the info you need in these first steps on how to buy a used car.
A quick visit via the internet to your Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Dodge or Chevy websites and read up on the features of each model. These sites will have some good info, but once you have narrowed it down to a couple of the make and models, I would next pay a visit to some of the great unbiased review sites out there on the web. A great used car review website is edmonds.com, there you can see reviews of some of the Edmond’s professionals and of current owners of the vehicles you are interested in buying for your next used car.
The second part on how to buy a used car will help uncover some of the hidden flaws of the particular model you are interested in and help you know what to look for while on the test drive.
Ok, you should now know which vehicle or vehicles you want to choose and the next step in how to buy a used car is to find the one you want. If it is a common vehicle I suggest you deal locally to avoid any scams. There are many options or places to look for a used car. The top four places to look is Online, newspaper, local new car dealerships and used car lots.
The best places to look online are on craigslist.org and the autotrader.com. Both allow you to search only for vehicles that are in your area. You can also look in eBay, but the whole bidding thing is a turn off for me and the available local listings in most areas are scarce.
The next good place to look for a used car is right in your local newspaper. There are some good deals to be found in there.
Your local car dealerships always have a nice assortment of high quality used cars. Most of the time, the dealerships weed out the undesirable ones and only have nice cars on their lots. Also don’t be too choosy when it comes to the make of the dealership as each dealership will have an assortment of makes to choose from in their used car lot. For example you can find a Toyota at a Ford dealership and vise versa.
Used car lots feature a lot of used car choices. Some are good cars and some are on their last leg. There are good deals if you are careful in choosing and know what to look for.
Ok, fort the first half of you how to buy a used car you have learned how to find a used car and now you have searched the above avenues and have found a couple of cars that interest you.
Now is the time to schedule a test drive and check out the used car. There are a few items that I look at on how to buy a used car. I have created a how to buy a used car check list for you.
- Firs thing I do is ask for a carfax report of perform one my self at carfax.com. This report will help you weed out the bad from the good before you look at any of them. An accident or rebuilt titled car is not really a big deal if it was repaired right, but will make it harder for you to sell later on. Accidents and rebuilt title always lower the value of a car and if you are considering one be careful and make sure you do not pay anywhere near retail for it.
- The first concern is how many miles the car has. Most newer cars can and do last past 100,000 miles. So if it is less than 65,000 miles and you plan on owning it for, say the next three to four years you would be good to go. Also, ask the owner (if it is being purchased from the owner) if the miles where highway or in stop in go. Highway miles put very little strain on engine and drive train components.
- Next are the maintenance records. Make sure the oils and other fluids have been changed on the recommended intervals. For most domestic cars the oil should be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and the transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles.
- Check and see if there are any repair records on the vehicle. This may alert you to problems or may help you determine which parts may need to be changed soon, such as timing belts, starters and alternators.
- Inspect the tires. Check the wear bars and look for any signs of damages such as dry rot, cracking or splitting.
- I like to take a peak under the car to look for leaks or heavily corroded or rusted undercarriage. Also look where the car is parked and check for stains on the pavement.
- Check out the exterior for any signs of rust, dents, scratch or any other damage. Some cars may show a clear carfax, yet still may have been in an accident. One of the telltale signs is to take a look ate the body panels. On most cars there are VIN stickers unique to each vehicle and if the panels have been changed they will be void of this marking. Keep in find some car do not have VIN identifiers. More than likely if it has a clear car fax it is an accident free car.
- Next would be a thorough check of the interior and exterior to make sure all the electronics such as radios, power door locks, power windows and the interior and exterior lighting works as they should.
- The final thing to do is take the test drive. It is best to take it to a place where you can legally drive it at high way speeds and go through all the gears. Listen for any abnormal noises. Clunking sounds or rattles is a sign of a problem. Also now is a good time to check out the gauges. The main two are the oil pressure and water temperature. Both gauges should be in the normal range.
If everything passes these how to buy a used car criteria and the price is right, it would appear that you have found the perfect used car for you. If you want to try and get a better deal on that car you found, follow this link to the art of negotiating the price of a used car, how to negotiate buying a used car.
Good luck on your purchase.
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