It only takes one negative used car buying experience to realize that the process of finding and buying a preowned car can quickly become a nightmare for many years to come. The truth is that cars are a huge investment, and, more importantly, we rely on them to get us to the most critical places in our lives. Used cars are the smart financial decision for most people, especially when you consider how much new cars depreciate immediately when you drive them off the lot.
On the flip side, though, buying a used car is only as smart as you are about finding the right one. Overlooking details while you are shopping can quickly result in expensive mechanic fixes or, worse, complete lemons. Unfortunately, many drivers each year make the wrong decision and end up with seemingly endless bills and a massive headache.
So, how can you avoid the potential pitfalls of buying a used car and make sure you are spending your money and putting your trust into a vehicle that will perform up to expectations? Follow these critical steps, and you will have the kind of used car buying strategy that leaves you in the driver’s seat towards a good deal and keeps disaster in the rearview.
Be Realistic In Your Search
Most of the time the biggest rip-offs when it comes to buying a used car originate from people’s desire to get more than they are paying for. Just like anything in life, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. When you consider your budget, look for cars that are not significantly depreciated to be that price. The lower price is often because of extremely high mileage, mechanical problems, or a bad history of crashes. By sticking to a car that is more towards the middle of its life and has a clean bill of health, you are saving yourself the trouble of walking into a potential trap.
Give It A Thorough Once Over
When you go to look at a potential option, the most immediately helpful thing you can do for yourself is spending adequate time looking at the interior and exterior of the car. This may seem obvious, but by paying attention to the little details, you can learn a lot about how previous owners treated the car. Unexplainable dents can point towards more significant problems hidden underneath, and a wrecked interior often reflects the overall beating the car took in the past. Checking for leaks can also be an easy way to identify more severe problems.
Take It To The Experts
Having a trustworthy mechanic look at the car before you commit to buying it can help you avoid a car with problems you don’t have the training to spot yourself. The fact is that cars are complex machinery and the everyday driver doesn’t understand everything that may be important. Having a professional check it out only costs a fraction of what the repairs on a bad car might down the road.
Do Your Homework
When it comes time to purchase the car you’ve taken through all the steps mentioned previously, you must know the fair market value before you enter negotiations. Spending the time to study the market and find what the same car in a similar condition has sold for recently in your area gives you a great bargaining chip when it comes time to get the deal done. Trust your research, and don’t get sucked into paying more than the car is worth. It is better to wait for a fair deal than jump the gun and overpay.
Buying a used car can be frustrating, the reality is that to find the best deal it will likely take more time and energy than you initially wanted to spend. Because of this, you may be tempted to buy the first shiny looking car that seems like it is workable. Resist the urge! The majority of people selling their cars are interested in getting the most money possible when cashing in their investment; logic should indicate that most buying opportunities do not favor the buyer. However, following this strategy leaves you set up for success when it comes time to buying a used car. By purchasing used, you are saving yourself from the significant depreciation that faces all new vehicles when they are driven off the lot. Still, you only save money if you purchase intelligently. The truth is that there are good deals and bad deals out there, so be sure to follow this strategy and find the right deal for you!
