What To Consider When Buying A Used Car!

 

If you’re looking to buy a used car, just know that you are not alone. A study made by Experian in 2019 showed that people are more likely to buy used cars than new cars based on credit. Buying a used car is one of the easiest decisions you’ll ever make. Here at Mike’s Auto Sales, we are here to help make the used car buying process a lot easier. Here are a couple of things to think about before and when buying a used car! 

 

The Option Of Financing 

Financing a car is like leasing a car, except you get to keep it for as long as you’d like. However, the car is technically not yours and you still have to make monthly payments on it. Take into account the down payment, trade in value, your credit score, and car loans. If you are taking a loan, banks don’t give them out for cars that are 4 or 5 years old. It’s also important to keep the term of which you finance as short as possible. This avoids paying more overtime. The longer you keep the car, the less value it will have later on. 

Car Insurance

Most dealerships require proof of insurance before they sell you a car. Having proof of insurance makes it easier for car dealers to conduct business the right way and it helps you if you are ever involved in a collision. If you’re confused on how to get car insurance, you can find the most affordable car insurance plans just by searching online. Once you have your insurance, show it to your dealer and they will supply you with all paperwork to keep with you at all times. They will also supply you with car plates so that you don’t have to go to the DMV. 

Vehicle History Report

You do this once you have the VIN number of the car you want. CARFAX and AutoCheck are companies that let you run a vehicle history report. This helps you determine if the car you want to get is the right one for you based on its past history. The report also has information such as a vehicle evaluation, description of the vehicle, its previous owners, accident information, and its recent mileage. The one downside to a vehicle history report is that it will cost you some money if you choose to get it from CARFAX or AutoCheck. If you go to the dealership, they can get you one for free. They do this because they know the buyer’s interest based on the vehicle history report.

Test Drive

You’re at the dealership and right before you negotiate with the salesperson, you’re thinking about nothing but driving off in your new car; what do you do? The truth is that you don’t know what the car is like until you drive it. Before driving the car, you might want to talk to a financial advisor or take a look at a vehicle history report for a physical description of the car. Once all that is finished, you can finally test drive the car. Before entering the car, use your senses such as smell, look, touch, and hear. Examine the exterior with these senses, except for smell and hear. Entering the car, use all these senses. Look around the interior and the features it provides. Play around with any of the features, touch the steering wheel, and the dashboard.

Listen to the engine and make sure there’s nothing wrong with the way it sounds. You can determine if the car has been cleaned out by the way it smells. If you think there’s anything fishy about the car, it’s a red flag.

Your Used Car

Follow all these suggestions and fill out all the paperwork and your car is ready for you to enjoy! Our sales team is determined to help you buy a used car of your liking whether it’s a midsize sedan, pickup truck, an SUV for the family, or a luxury vehicle to show off. Call us, shop online, or stop by our dealership today!