A Guide to Choosing the Best Used Vehicle

Buying a used car can be a great option if you want to drive a car on a modest budget. But there are several important things you need to keep in mind when shopping for a used car that can help you avoid facing unexpected extra costs and unpleasant surprises. Here are some of our top tips for buying a used vehicle.

Set Your Budget

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The first step in your buying process should be deciding how much you can afford to spend on a used car. This will help you focus on looking at vehicles that you can realistically afford. It will also help you when you’re negotiating a final price with the seller.

A key part of setting your budget may include arranging financing. If you’re planning on taking out an auto loan, it’s a good idea to arrange it first so you don’t have to wait for approval once you’ve found a car you like.

Determine Your Needs

Considering what you’ll be using the car for is a crucial step to help you narrow down your purchasing options. For example, if you’re part of a family with four kids that regularly travels on the weekend, you’ll want to focus on looking at three-row SUVs, not compact sports cars. Likewise, if you need to tow a trailer or lug around heavy loads of cargo, you’ll want to concentrate your energy on looking for trucks or minivans.

Understanding your needs will help you guard against an impulsive purchase. This can happen if you’re not clear about your requirements and a seller puts you under pressure to make a decision. With the vehicle in front of them, some buyers wrongly feel like they’re obliged to accept the offer.

Ask for a Vehicle History Report

Once you’ve found a suitable used vehicle, you should check its vehicle history report to make sure it hasn’t displayed serious problems. An easy way to do this is by using the Carfax online service. By entering a vehicle’s identification number (VIN), you can see the details about its maintenance and repair history.

One of the benefits of checking the vehicle history report is that you can easily learn if the car has been involved in an accident and needed major refurbishment. If it has, this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the vehicle. But you may want to try and negotiate a lower price, or have a trained mechanic carefully inspect the repairs to make sure no ongoing problems are present.

Carry Out a Brief Visual Inspection

Even if you’re not an auto expert, there are some warning signs you can look out for when viewing a used car. First, examine the paintwork and body of the car. If you see uneven areas or color variations, this can indicate that repairs were conducted and were not performed to a high standard. Check underneath the vehicle for signs of leaking fluids. For example, black fluid can indicate that oil is leaking, while green or yellow fluids can come from the antifreeze. Red fluids are found in the power steering.

Inside the vehicle, look for any unusual wear and tear on the upholstery. If you notice a stale or damp smell, this may be a sign of a problem or poor maintenance.

Take the Car for a Test Drive

If you’re happy with the car, remember to take it for a test drive. You’ll likely be sitting behind the wheel of this vehicle for years, so you want to make sure it performs well in all routine driving tests.

Try to go on the highway, around corners, and along city roads during your test drive so you can test out the car in a variety of circumstances. You should also pay close attention to how the engine sounds, since unusual noises can indicate problems that should be investigated.

Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection

After your test drive, take the vehicle to a trained auto mechanic for an inspection. This is an important step, because there may be issues with the vehicle that the seller isn’t aware of. Although you may have to pay a small charge for the inspection, this is preferable to buying a used car with a series of undetected problems that you’ll be responsible for fixing.

Negotiate a Price

Now that you have a thorough knowledge of how the car performs and what condition it’s in, you’re in a strong position to negotiate a fair price. Remember that, just because a seller is asking for a particular price, it doesn’t mean that the car is worth as much. Private sellers, especially, may not know how much cars cost, giving them unrealistic expectations.

You can figure out what a fair price is by researching the vehicle’s make, model, and year online. While prices can vary depending on the condition of the car and how much mileage it has, doing this research will give you a guide to what you should offer.

Finalize the Purchase

Completing the purchase isn’t just about handing over the cash. You’ll also need to make sure that all documentation is in order. If you’re dealing with a private seller, they should sign the car title over to you so that you can register it in your own name.

You’ll also need to register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles and add it to your auto insurance so you’re covered.

We hope that this guide to purchasing a used car has helped you. If you’re still looking for a used vehicle, consider our extensive used car inventory at Oxmoor Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. One of the major benefits of purchasing a used car from a dealership like ours is that you can be sure it is in good condition. Our used vehicles are inspected by our team of professional technicians to ensure they’re in good working order before we put them up for sale.

On top of that, we can offer you excellent financing options and the opportunity to service your car regularly to a high standard. Contact us today to learn more and pick out the perfect used car to meet your needs.