A Short Guide to Buying a Used Car
Just because a car isn’t new doesn’t mean it can’t be new for you. Finding a used vehicle can be complicated, and it is important to find a car that works best for you, here are a few things you need to consider when searching and selecting a car.
Set A Budget
Be realistic about how much you can afford, but just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should get it.
Personal budget factors such as how much you take home each month can affect how much you should spend on a car. (It is suggested that you should only spend about 20% of your income on your car) for more budget help click here
Narrow the Search
Once you have a solid idea of how much money you can spend on your used car you can select the type of car you need that is in your price range. There are plenty of used cars to go around and several ways to generally categorize them. However, the two main types of used cars you will come across are.
- Certified preowned (CPO) car the purpose of the CPO programs is a program that was made to alleviate concerns vehicle. it is important to keep into consideration that CPO programs vary widely, it is important that you do research on the retailer you are buying from so you can make an informed decision on your car.
- “second tier” vehicles, these cars may not be the biggest sellers on the lot, but can still be reliable.
Usage Considerations
Some questions you need to ask yourself
- How much do you drive?
- How is the weather where you live?
- How many people do you travel with you in your car regularly?
consider these questions when you are looking for your car, they will dictate what you need to buy for your day-to-day needs.
Now that you’ve figured out the logistics of your used car, now you need to go out and actually get it. Online forums are one resource you can use, this source works best if you love research or have a decent amount of car related Knowledge, craigslist may be a good source for you.
Peer-to-Peer car Buying and selling web pages can be an option, these sites operate as a middleman between buyer and seller.
In Person is a more labor-intensive option, you can go to a Used-carlot, the used section of a dealership, and good old-fashioned newspaper ads.
Buying from Dealers
When you buy from a car dealership different factors go into purchasing from them.
when working with a dealer they tend to have more information about the vehicle but will typically stick to the bottom line. typically you start the conversation with your bottom line.
Other factors Car dealers consider are.
- A trade-in car, if you have one
- down payment vs. monthly payments
- Auto warranties
No matter where you buy from, it is a smart idea to get your vehicles maintenance and crash history.
A vehicle history report will reveal many points about the car that will help you make your decision and negotiate a fair price.