July 2nd, 2009

The first of my used car buying tips is, BE PREPARED. Really get to know your stuff. Car reviews are a great place to start when deciding which make and model you are going for. Find out about the different specifications available, how reliable that model is, how affordable it is to run, the service costs, common faults that particular model might have.

Your next step in how to buy a used car is to sort out your FINANCE. Set your budget in stone. Stay focused and you won’y blow your budget. You should probably take someone with you to help resist temptation. If you are going to finance your purchase you need to check your credit rating before going to any dealer. Financing through a different company should get you a better rate and stops the dealer playing the poor credit rating. Auto Loan USA are a reputable company to arrange finance with. Secondly, this way you can make the arrangement at your leisure rather than under pressure.

Next , go out and TEST DRIVE a few cars that are the same model as this will give you a better base from which to chose the one in the best condition. This will help spot anything that might be wrong with the engine or transmission.

Check the HISTORY of the car you want to buy. You DO NOT want anything that has been in a serious collision, suffered from flood damage (and there are quite a lot about). Nor do you want one with dodgy mileage, an ex rental which will have been abused or suspect financial paperwork. You can do this by making a note of the VIN number and visiting a website such as Carfax or Autocheck.

If you have written all your information down you have almost created your very own buying guide for used cars! Make a note of the categories I have highlighted. There’s nothing wrong with a cheat sheet!

Now that you are fully prepared you can visit the dealership wothout that feeling of trepidation. Don’t get involved if you start to feel uncomfortable. You are under no obligation to agree to anything. Don’t forget that the dealer is an expert negotiator so give as little information away as is possible. As an example, don’t discuss your financial status until you have agreed a deal.

Congratulations! You have now prepared yourself and done your due diligence. As you can see the greater the effort the greater the saving. Knowing every trick and stunt the dealers try to pull to separate you from your money could save you serious cash. Arm yourself with these inside Used Car Buying Tips and possibly save yourself thousands of dollars!

 

 

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