Buying a used car or truck is a lot like shopping for a new one, but there are a few tips I’d like to pass along that focus on used vehicles. One of the biggest advantages of buying used is saving money on a car or truck that is a few years old. Sure, it might have a few miles on it and the “new car” smell may have faded, but you can usually save 20-30% when you buy used.
You want to find the right vehicle, and you probably already have one in mind that you are considering. But, you might want to expand your search by making a list of the most important features you want in your next car or truck, and think about how you’ll be using it. For work, recreation, or both? How many passengers will typically be with you? How important are safety, fuel economy, and technology features? Those are just a few things to think about, and the vehicle you want might already have everything you’re looking for.
Finding the perfect used vehicle feels great!
When shopping used, you have to consider the condition of the vehicle and also the mileage. You should do your homework on the exact car you want before you buy, and this includes running a vehicle history report on it. Every car and truck on the road has a vehicle identification number (VIN), and when you run a report through a company like Carfax, you kind find out all kinds of information about that particular vehicle. Correct mileage, accident history, if it was a rental, and so on. You might want to look at buying a certified used car because they are thoroughly inspected and can come with a manufacturer warranty.
By now you should know how much you can afford to spend, so now you can pick from a few financing options. The first option is usually financing through the dealer, but you can also finance through a bank, or an online lender or credit union. And, you always have the option to pay in cash if you’ve been saving up for your car or truck.
The last thing to do is actually test drive the car or truck you decided on to make sure it’s everything you want it to be.
