How To Buy A Used Car – Here Are The Steps

The first thing you need to do is figure out what’s the right car for you. Do you care more about mileage, manufacturer, price or color? Once you’ve got your car picked out, it’s time for research. When it comes to research, the internet is your best friend. A used car is “based on its condition, mileage, reliability, performance and popularity.” You should be looking for: the number of previous owners, accident history, previous repairs, and maintenance history. Websites like CarFax.com are your second best friend. Don’t ever buy a used car unless you have all the information.

Next, is finding where to buy your car. Obviously, there are used car dealerships, like Hertz or your neighborhood dealership. But don’t forget about new car dealerships. Many of them sell used cars. Websites like ConsumerGuide.com and online classifieds are also a good resource. Print classifieds work well, too. Now that you’ve got the research down, it’s time to go the dealership. But before that, make sure you have your own “financing and loan approvals ready before you go buy the car.” Once there, “have a mechanic put the car up on a lift for a full inspection.” Once this is done, it’s time to scope out the scams and avoid them. If the dealer claims that there’s a “One Day Only” sale, they’re lying. They want your business, not the other way around. You are the boss. If they say the sale won’t be there tomorrow, then you tell them that you want to check back tomorrow just to make sure.

There is also the “4-Square Method,” which is when the dealer tries to distract you like you’re a child. It’s just the game it’s so aptly named after. The dealer tries to emphasis different components separately so that you stop paying attention to the big picture. If you’re only focused on one component, they can rip you off, and you’ll be none-the-wiser. So pay attention people! It’s your money, be careful with it. So, you’ve found a good deal, and you want to buy the car. It’s time to look at the paperwork. Car dealers are there to rip you off. With so much paperwork, it’s hard to know what you’re doing. Don’t sign anything before reading it. Here are some things to look for:

If you see a statement that says “As Is,” don’t sign it right away. If you do, once that car is off the lot, any problems you encounter are your responsibility. You should have a minimum of 30 days to make sure you’re satisfied with your car, and that it’s in the condition you expected. Make sure that all the numbers match up to what you agreed to. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised. So, after careful deliberation, you’ve signed the paperwork. Congratulations, you now have an amazing used car. Enjoy it.