When you\u2019re in the market for a car, the first decision to make is whether to buy new or used. While there are good reasons to buy a brand new car, there are plenty of advantages to buying used, too. Price is at the top of the list for most people. Upgrading to a higher-end car than you could afford new is a great reason as well. If you\u2019ve decided to go used, here are 8 tips for buying a used car.<\/p>\n
This is a critical first step in buying a used car. If you\u2019ll be financing your car, a good rule of thumb is 20% of your after-tax income. While this is a good guideline for most people, it\u2019s best to think of this as your maximum. There may be good reason to go a bit lower. The older the car, the more likely it is that it\u2019ll require additional maintenance. Include anticipated repairs in your budget too.<\/p>\n
There are several websites that will help you narrow down your choices before you even begin looking at car buying sites. Go to your favorite search engine and search for \u201cbest used cars under (your budget)\u201d and you\u2019ll probably find several lists. Look at a few of these lists and see which cars appeal to you most. You\u2019re not making a car buying decision yet, you\u2019re just narrowing down your options.<\/p>\n
To narrow this list down further, start looking at reviews of the specific models you liked. Edmunds<\/a> and Consumer Reports<\/a> are good places to look, as well as Car and Driver<\/a> and Motor Trend<\/a>. You can also go back to your preferred search engine and type in, for example, \u201c2015 Honda Civic review.\u201d Narrow your list to about 3-4 choices, based on the used car reviews you\u2019ve read.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not time to find a car just yet. You have an idea of what the models of used cars you\u2019re considering should cost, and now you want to find out what people are paying in your area. Start your used car search online. Check sites like Craigslist<\/a> and Auto Trader<\/a>. Search for \u201cused cars (your city)\u201d online. Check Kelley Blue Book<\/a>. And once more, Edmunds<\/a> is a great resource \u2013 you can find the average price for specific models in your area. You should check the ads in your local newspaper, too.<\/p>\n Now begins the real<\/em> used car search. Start with the same places you looked for prices. You may have already spotted a few cars of interest. Try to find at least one of each of the models you\u2019re considering, if possible.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re looking at ads, find out as much as you can about each contender from the ads themselves. Details you want to know are mileage, included options, \u201ctrim level,\u201d VIN number, and condition. Get as much of this information as you can before the next step.<\/p>\n This is one of the most important used car buying tips; in fact, I\u2019d call it essential. It\u2019s one of the best things that\u2019s come along for everyone looking to buy used cars and can really save you from ending up with a \u201clemon.\u201d Carfax<\/a> and AutoCheck<\/a> are two places to check, though there are others. You\u2019ll need the VIN in order to get the report, so if you didn\u2019t get it already, call the seller.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t want to drive all over town if you don\u2019t have to. Call up the sellers of the cars on your list, fill in any details you couldn\u2019t get yet, and confirm what you read in the ad. Now\u2019s a good time to ask any questions that you haven\u2019t already found out, or to ask about any negatives you saw in the vehicle report. Ask for details about the condition. Find out if anything important was not mentioned in the ad. If everything sounds good so far, schedule an appointment for a test drive.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t make a reasonable decision without this step. Walk around the car, look for any dings or scratches, look at the condition of the tires, and check under the hood for any obvious signs of leaks. Get in, adjust the seat and mirrors, and see how you feel. Look around the interior and make note of any tears, stains, etc. Look out the windshield, check the mirrors, look over your shoulder out the back window, checking for blind spots or any potential visibility issues.<\/p>\n Now start the car and make sure no warning lights come on. Try out the A\/C \u2013 is it cold? Test all the lights and the blinkers before you start driving. Then take it for a spin. Leave the radio off for now, so that you can hear any noises. Watch for anything out of the ordinary like smoke from the exhaust. Pay attention to how well the brakes work, and notice if they squeak or make other unexpected noises. Ask questions.<\/p>\n If everything seems good so far, make an offer. You\u2019ve done your research, so you should know what you\u2019re willing to pay for this car, but don\u2019t offer that amount.\u00a0 Start a bit lower, but be reasonable. Use average prices for that car as your guide.<\/p>\n The seller will either accept your offer or reject it with a counteroffer. It\u2019s up to you whether to take the counteroffer or continue negotiating. Remember you can always walk away \u2013 you still have other choices. Once you agree on a price, it\u2019s paperwork time. Take your time and make sure you understand everything, and when you\u2019re satisfied, sign and hand over the check \u2013 you\u2019re done!<\/p>\n Knowing how to buy a used car is a valuable skill that can save you money and prevent you from buying somebody else\u2019s problem. With these tips, you are ready to find your new-to-you car.<\/p>\n Once you decide on a used car, you’ll need to insure it. USAgencies can help you find cheap car insurance with great coverage. Complete the form at the top of the page to request a free car insurance quote online<\/strong> or give us a call at 800-958-8545<\/strong> and one of our friendly, knowledgeable insurance advisors will help you choose a policy that fits your needs and budget.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you\u2019re in the market for a car, the first decision to make is whether to buy new or used. While there are good reasons to buy a brand new car, there are plenty of advantages to buying used, too. Price is at the top of the list for most people. Upgrading to a higher-end […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-car-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3021"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3187,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3021\/revisions\/3187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usagencies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}3. Get Prices for Your Area<\/h2>\n
4. Search for Cars<\/h2>\n
5. Get a Vehicle History Report<\/h2>\n
6. Call the Sellers<\/h2>\n
7. Take it for a Drive<\/h2>\n
8. Make an Offer<\/h2>\n