11 Important Tips For Buying a Used Car

Purchasing a used car can be an affordable way to get a great vehicle, but it requires research and diligence. There are key steps you should take before handing over your hard-earned money.

Used Car Buying Tips

If you want to protect yourself when purchasing a used car, you need to become knowledgeable in the steps you need to take to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. Below are 10 tips that you should follow whenever you’re looking to buy a used car.

#1 – Figure Our Your Price Range

Most people who shop for used cars are not so concerned about the make and model of their car. They are more interested in purchasing a working car that they can afford.

Therefore, you should first decide the minimum and maximum amount of money that you’re going to spend on a used car.

#2 – Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection

For used cars above a certain price range, it’s important to have a pre-purchase inspection done before making the purchase. This will help to ensure that you’re not buying something that has serious issues or hidden accident damage.

A pre-purchase inspection is typically done by a qualified mechanic, and it will include a thorough examination of the car. They will check for any obvious signs of wear and tear, and they will also test all of the car’s systems to make sure they are in good working order.

While it’s impossible to guarantee that a used car is in perfect condition, a pre-purchase inspection will give you peace of mind and help you avoid making a costly mistake.

#3 – Don’t Be Too Cheap

Don’t just go out looking for the cheapest used car you can find. The cheaper it is, the more problems that it likely has. You want to find a car that is within your price range and passes all of your inspections, even if you have to pay a little more than what you would want to pay.

#4 – Be Careful w/ Private Sellers

You might find better deals with private sellers but you’ll also find a lot of scams too. It may be a good idea to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before you purchase it so you can be sure to know what all the flaws are in the car.

#5 – Research Multiple Sources

Don’t just use one source to find used cars. Use multiple sources such as online classified ads, print classified ads, online auctions, and so on.

#6 – Check Oil & Muffler

Inspect the oil to see if the liquid is clear or not. If you see black oil, then it means the oil is bad. It should be clear. Also, check the emissions coming out of the muffler. If the emissions look blue or white, it could be an early warning sign that the engine is going to malfunction. You’ll want to have clear emissions.

#7 – Interior Inspection

Look inside the car and see if it looks well kept. Take note of the mileage on the dashboard to see if it matches the mileage number you were given by the seller. If the interior looks to be in poor condition and the mileage is low, this could mean that the seller tampered with the odometer.

#8 – Exterior Inspection

Study the outside of the vehicle and look for signs of rust or fresh paint. Sometimes a seller will cover up flaws from an accident by painting over them. Examine the paint closely to ensure it is the original paint of the car.

#9 – Ground Inspection

Look underneath the car and see if there are any signs of leakage. Any kind of oil leak will be easily noticeable just by observing the paved ground under the car.

#10 – Give the Car a Test Drive

Never purchase a used car that you have not tested on the road first. A test drive will tell you a lot about the functionality of the car right off the bat. Although it doesn’t mean everything works, it will at least ensure that the engine runs which is the most important thing.

#11 – Look for Certified Used Vehicles

If you’re shopping for a used car at a dealership, some of them will have used cars that are certified. This means they have a warranty attached to them which ensures they are in good working order.

If anything in the car were to malfunction, the warranty would cover the costs of repairing it. You might have to pay more for these types of used cards, but at least you’ll have peace of mind to know that it functions properly.

If you follow these tips then chances are you will end up purchasing a used car that will last you for a least a couple of years. You can never be too careful these days with all the shady dealers and sellers out there so taking precautions like these will certainly save you time and money in the end.

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Mark Stevens

Owner at Car Treatments

Mark is a veteran auto technician who has honed his skills with over 19 years of service working at various independent shops. While Fords and Mazdas are his specialty, he enjoys working on practically any vehicle (except a Nissan 300ZX).

He’s known for his attention to detail and problem-solving skills and enjoys coming up with out-of-the box solutions when the situation requires it.

When he's not troubleshooting customers' cars, you'll most likely find him working on his current project ('96 Bronco) or cooking Italian food for his family.

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