Used Car Buying Tips
By Lydia Quinn
Whether it's simply to get from point A to point B or as a status symbol of your success, most Americans need a vehicle. To save money, or simply because funds are limited, millions of people will purchase a used car instead of a new car. The main advantage of buying a used car is cost savings, but many used car buyers will end up getting more, or less, than they bargained for and the car may have hidden problems. Here are some tips to help you make sure you get the best used car deal possible.
Online Tools You Can Use
Online Tools You Can Use
CarFax Vehicle History Reports, available from Carfax.com, these reports will give you a history of the vehicle including tell you if the vehicle has been salvaged, rebuilt, flooded, fire damaged, recalled, stolen or if the odometer has been rolled over or rolled back.
Car.com will let you search for used cars in your area by typing in your zip code.
Cars.com allows you to search their database of millions of used cars by manufacturer and model, so you can search for all used car sales of a Honda Civic, for instance.
CarsDirect.com allows you to search model and category and then filter by price. They also provide pricing reports and their database is updated daily.
Know The Value Before Negotiating
Once you have found the car you want, make sure you know the value before beginning negotiating with the owner or dealer. The standard pricing for used vehicles is provided by Kelley Blue Book. You can buy the book online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or from a local bookstore. Knowing the true value of your make, model and year of vehicle is extremely important in the bargaining process.
Car.com will let you search for used cars in your area by typing in your zip code.
Cars.com allows you to search their database of millions of used cars by manufacturer and model, so you can search for all used car sales of a Honda Civic, for instance.
CarsDirect.com allows you to search model and category and then filter by price. They also provide pricing reports and their database is updated daily.
Know The Value Before Negotiating
Once you have found the car you want, make sure you know the value before beginning negotiating with the owner or dealer. The standard pricing for used vehicles is provided by Kelley Blue Book. You can buy the book online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or from a local bookstore. Knowing the true value of your make, model and year of vehicle is extremely important in the bargaining process.
What To Watch Out For
Watch out for the following:
- Watch out for vehicles that may have been damaged by recent natural disasters. These vehicles may have problems later on due to water corroding their electrical parts.
- Differences in paint color, even slight, may alert you to a vehicle that has been in an accident and repaired.
- A car salesman who is really trying to push you to buy a particular vehicle, they may be trying to get rid of a problem car.
- Extended warranties. Be sure to read every word of any extended warranty they try to sell you. Often the cheap extended warranty plans are useless and don't cover much. Other extended warranty plans are scams to inflate your costs.
- Vehicles with very high mileage, high miles reduces a vehicles value substantially, therefore avoid them unless you get a fantastic price. Average mileage for a typical vehicle should be around 12,000 miles per year. Avoid used vehicles that are over this average by more than a few thousand.
- The words AS IS, avoid vehicles that are sold AS IS, most have hidden problems and are not worth taking a risk on. There is always a reason the owner or dealer says AS IS, and it's never good.
- If a vehicle has been flooded, you can often tell by looking at the bottom of the vehicle for water lines. Also, check out the metal parts under the seats for signs of any rust. Be careful when buying a used car whose carpets and upholstery have all been replaced and is brand new, this can also be a sign of a previously flooded vehicle.
- Watch out for vehicles that may have been damaged by recent natural disasters. These vehicles may have problems later on due to water corroding their electrical parts.
- Differences in paint color, even slight, may alert you to a vehicle that has been in an accident and repaired.
- A car salesman who is really trying to push you to buy a particular vehicle, they may be trying to get rid of a problem car.
- Extended warranties. Be sure to read every word of any extended warranty they try to sell you. Often the cheap extended warranty plans are useless and don't cover much. Other extended warranty plans are scams to inflate your costs.
- Vehicles with very high mileage, high miles reduces a vehicles value substantially, therefore avoid them unless you get a fantastic price. Average mileage for a typical vehicle should be around 12,000 miles per year. Avoid used vehicles that are over this average by more than a few thousand.
- The words AS IS, avoid vehicles that are sold AS IS, most have hidden problems and are not worth taking a risk on. There is always a reason the owner or dealer says AS IS, and it's never good.
- If a vehicle has been flooded, you can often tell by looking at the bottom of the vehicle for water lines. Also, check out the metal parts under the seats for signs of any rust. Be careful when buying a used car whose carpets and upholstery have all been replaced and is brand new, this can also be a sign of a previously flooded vehicle.
More Basic Tips
- Always Negotiate, you should never pay the asking price or full price. Whether you are negotiating with a dealer or private party, never pay what they are asking.
- Make out a bill of sale when you buy a vehicle from a private party. Include all relevant information including the make, model, year, vehicle identification number, title number, color, current odometer reading, number of cylinders, any disclosure or warranty information, price and payment information, buyer and seller contact information and include signatures of both parties and the date of sale.
Those are some basic tips to help you get the used car you want without getting ripped off.
- Make out a bill of sale when you buy a vehicle from a private party. Include all relevant information including the make, model, year, vehicle identification number, title number, color, current odometer reading, number of cylinders, any disclosure or warranty information, price and payment information, buyer and seller contact information and include signatures of both parties and the date of sale.
Those are some basic tips to help you get the used car you want without getting ripped off.
Lydia Quinn writes for YesTheyAuctionCars.com, an auto auction listing site offering auctions for cars, trucks, RV's, campers and more. Visit us at: http://www.yestheyauctioncars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lydia_Quinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?Used-Car-Buying-Tips&id=396318
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lydia_Quinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?Used-Car-Buying-Tips&id=396318
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