You’ve got money in your pocket, and a need for a new set of wheels. You don’t have quite enough for a brand-new model, so you’ll have to get something used. Nothing wrong with that.
There are some things that you need to look for when you’re shopping around though. If you hop on the first good deal you see, then you may end up with a lemon that’s going to break down in a week.
To help you get into a vehicle that is both in your budget and functional, check out this quick guide on what to look for when buying a used car.
- Your Budget
Before you start hitting the car lots, you need to set your budget. It may be difficult but once you decide on this budget you need to stick by it. Even if the car that’s a little out of your price range, looks good, or the dealer proposes a few attractive add-ons.
Used cars come in all sort of price ranges. It shouldn’t be too hard to find one that doesn’t cause you to dip into your rent money for next month.
- The Vehicle’s History
So you inspect the outside of the car and pop your head in to check out the interior and everything looks good. Time to buy the car? Maybe not.
This car may seem fine now but it won’t be so fine if it breaks down in a few weeks. A car that looks bright and shiny could have been in a wreck. You never know.
Always check CARFAX or some other source to find out what a car’s complete history is before you buy it.
- Inspection
Even if a car comes out clean in CARFAX, you shouldn’t skip taking it in for an inspection. A professional will be able to look at it and tell you if you’re making a smart investment or not.
Most dealerships will allow you to do this, no problem. If they seem a bit hesitant, then you should check out a different dealership. Hesitance means they are hiding something they don’t want you to know.
- Reputation
You don’t want to just check out the car when you’re doing your research. You want to check out the car models reputation. It may be nice to know if the model you’re looking at has a battery issue ahead of time rather than being surprised by it later for example.
There are plenty of resources you can go to online that will list out these little issues. You should keep this step in mind even you’re buying a new car.
- Test Drive
Before you buy the car, you should make sure that it drives okay. You want to do this to be sure that there aren’t any issues with the car and to see if you connect with it. You may not know if the car is too big and clunky for you until you actually drive it for example.
Most dealerships won’t only let you do a test drive, they’ll suggest it. So feel free to ask them to hand over the keys for a few minutes.
- Your Lifestyle
That used sports car looks attractive, but is it worth it for you to buy it? If you’ve got a large family to drive around then the SUV/Mini Van may be a better fit no matter how much you like the smaller car.
Your car choice needs to reflect your lifestyle no matter if you’re a mother, a bachelor, or a college student who is always moving their stuff back and forth from the dorms to home.
- Financing Options
When you’re researching your car and setting your budget, go ahead and look at your financing options. You’ll need to show different paperwork depending if you’re getting financing through the dealership or a lender.
Buying a car is already a lengthy process so if you have your paperwork out and ready to go for financing you may be able to shave a few hours off.
- Warranty
Another thing that may take a lot of time is looking over the fine print. You need to do it though to find out the status of your warranty. If it’s labeled as a Certified Used Car then that means that it’s probably still under manufacturer warranty.
In some cases, the warranty only covers the car for a few years and may be out of date by the time you get to it. In this case, you may want to buy an extended warranty with the car.
- Insurance
You’ll need to have proof of insurance before you take your used car off the lot. If you don’t have it then it will take even more time to get everything situated before your vehicle can be yours.
In most cases, if you already go through some sort of insurance provider you can have your insurance coverage quickly transferred over. No questions asked.
- Car Title
The last step in having your car is getting the title. Whoever you’re buying the car from should be able to hand the title right over to you.
If you’re buying from a person rather than a dealership, then ask for their ID so you can compare the information to what’s on the title. You want to make sure that they actually own the car they are giving you.
What to Look For When Buying a Used Car to Avoid Getting a Lemon
Are you looking to buy a used car? There are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re shopping around, or you may buy a lemon on accident.
If you keep these tips on what to look for when buying a used car in mind, then you should be fine. You’ll drive off with the car of your dreams.
Can’t find a used car that you like in your budget? We may be able to help. Check out our inventory to see if we have your next car.
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