Guide to Buying A Used Car – Don’t Get Played

Buying a used car can seem like a complicated procedure but with some quick tips and a guide to help you; this process can be made simple. The first step to buying a used car is doing some research. Thinking about your budget, your needs, and your driving habits beforehand can help save a lot of money. Finding a car that you want is relatively easy. Simply going online, checking newspapers, and looking at books at the library and the book store can provide you with a lot of information on the cars that are out there. Many publications provide you with the different models of cars available and let you compare costs. They also have the details about the dos and don’ts when buying a used car.

The next step is to think about your payment options. You have two decisions: pay in full or finance over time. If you finance over time, the total cost of the car will be higher. If you choose to finance make sure you know the complete details and the exact price you are paying for your car. Now that you have that settled, you need to decide whether you are going to buy from a private party or a dealer. The difference between the two is the warranty that will be available to you. Only few private parties will offer a warranty, so if you believe you will feel safer with a warranty then maybe a dealer is the right choice for you.

Now that you have a few models in mind, thought about your payment options, and decide whether you will buy from a dealer or privately party, it’s time to do some serious homework. Going online and looking up the specific cars you have in mind is crucial, doing this will provide you with important information such as safety records, frequency of car repair, maintenance costs, comparison reports, and gas mileage.  If you have one particular car that you just love, paying a small fee online can provide you with the vehicle’s history report which includes information such as if the car has a clean title; if it has been involved in a serious accident; if it has ever been salvaged; how many times it has been sold; the original sale date of the car; and if there have been any recalls for that car.

Before actually buying a used car, make sure you examine the car yourself. You can find an inspection checklist online, in magazines, and books that deal with buying used cars. Also, make sure that you test drive the car. You ask can for the car’s maintenance records, and talk to the previous owner about the car’s history. Have a mechanic inspect the car for you. When you are finished and feel that you know everything you could possibly know then you are ready to take home your brand new used car.