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Five Things to Do Before Buying a Used Car

Purchasing a pre-owned, or used car, can be a very smart financial move. After all, they are often available for a fraction of the cost of a brand new car. Purchasing a new car is always nice however since cars depreciate so quickly, a savy used car purchase can be a great investment. However, in order to ensure that you pick out the perfect car for you, there are a few things that you will need to do before making your used car purchase.

Research the Used Car Thouroughly

Before you walk into your local used car dealership, make sure you conduct thorough research on the type of car you are looking for. The internet is a great tool for this as it allows you to see what models are available in your area, helps you learn what features you should be looking out for and lets you know how much such vehicles are selling for. Sites like Kelley Blue Book help you make an informed decision by providing information on new and used cars available in different localities. You can also visit auto boards and use social media groups to find out more about the type of car you want to purchase before making a decision. Safecar.gov is a great federal online resource that will help you to lookup used car recalls or safety issues.

Set a Used Car Budget

Determine how much you are willing to spend before going out to search for a used car. This will help you narrow down your options and negotiate a good price with the car’s owner and/or salesmen. Remember to include the cost of any auto repairs and transfer costs in your budget. Ensure that you do not reveal your target price to the seller too quickly until you are sure that they are giving you the best possible deal based on your research.

Get a Used Car History Report

A vehicle history report provides details about the car’s previous owners, lets you know whether the car has been involved in any accidents, shows how many times it has been bought and sold, gives the title status and lets you have any other pertinent information. Vehicle history reports can be obtained by 3rd party websites like SearchQuarry.com Carfax.com, Autocheck.com, and other sources. Typically these vehicle history reports can be performed by either a VIN search or License Plate Search

The most important reason for getting a vehicle history report is to ensure that you are not purchasing a stolen car. It also lets you know whether the car has any liens, gives details about the condition of the car to help you budget for repairs and generally provides information that will help you make a decision on whether or not to purchase the car.

Have the Used Car Inspected

Get a competent mechanic to conduct a thorough inspection of the car to ensure that it is in good working order. Even though the seller may say that everything is in good running order, you need a mechanic to carry out a few basic automotive tests and look under the hood to ensure that nothing is wrong and no auto repairs are needed.

Test Drive the Used Car

Take the car for a spin in order to discover whether everything is in good working order. A test drive allows you to get a feel for the car and determine whether it is comfortable enough for you. The test drive will also help you to gauge how the car performs in different conditions such as hills, corners, highways, and even rough terrain.

Do Your Homework When Purchasing a Used Car

When purchasing a used vehicle, it is always important to be confident in the quality of your new ride. By following the advice laid out in this article, you will be able to do exactly that. Making an educated decision on buying a used car with as much information as you can gather, give you the best possibility of making a savvy investment.