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It’s important to be savvy when searching for a used car to in order to find a great deal and avoid getting ripped off. Here are some tips on how to buy find the right used car to buy:
Think about the type of car you want to buy (sedan, mini-van, pick-up, etc.). This might be based on your job, family, or where you live (dirt roads, snow e.g.). Also consider the price range you are able to afford. This will narrow your search and help you to target the type of vehicle you need.
Search for used cars in the newspaper, craigslist, car-trading publications, used-car dealerships, and car-trading websites (autotrader.com, vehix.com). Look at the stats that are provided like the year, the mileage, and the interior features (leather upholstery, A/C, automatic/manual transmission, etc.). Certain features might be more important to you than others (like A/C if you live anywhere in the Sun Belt). Also, your goal is to find a car in your price range that has the lowest amount of miles. In this case it more likely to have less “wear” than the same car makes with higher mileage. For example, an owner will usually put on 15,000 miles per year. If you find a vehicle 7 year-old car with 45,000 miles at a decent price that’s a great deal!
Set up appointments to check out the cars in person. Test-drive the vehicles on the city streets/freeway to see how the car feels and handles at different speeds. Look to see if the essential features function correctly (turn signals, interior/exterior lights, A/C, sound system, windows, door handles, seat adjusters, etc.). Ask the owner how often they serviced the vehicle (oil changes, tire rotations, and transmissions/radiator flushing). Check the wear on the tires and find out when the last time the brakes were replaced. These are important questions to ask because issues in any of these areas can cause you a great deal of money down the road.
Get the VIN numbers for the vehicles you are interested in and get a CarFax report for each one. CarFax will give you a detailed report on the amount of owners the vehicle has had and if it has been in any accidents. The report will also tell you how often the vehicle has been serviced. You can also schedule an appointment with a mechanic and the owner to get a professional inspection from a repair shop. This will help you catch any problems the owner may not have been aware of or neglected to tell you.
Once you are ready to make a deal for a vehicle, don’t seem too anxious about getting the vehicle. Let he or she know you have other options. This will give you more leverage for negotiating the price down. Also make sure to obtain the documents you need to transfer the title (pink-slip, registration info).
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