It doesn’t matter if you drive a Chevy or drive a Cadillac, used car dealerships are used car dealerships. You’re going to be able to get a great deal no matter what type of car you want.
That is, if you know what to do. Here are a few tips to help.
Knowledge is power. – Before you even think about setting foot in a used car dealership, you’re going to need to do your homework. First, figure out your budget. What can you afford to pay for a used car? What cars are you interested in? Then, go to Edmunds.com to see the True Market Value of the cars to see if you can afford any of them. This is important, because the TMV is the fairest price you can get. Anything under it is a good deal.
Check the vehicle’s history report. – Once you’ve found a couple good deals, check the cars’ history reports. If it’s negative, you don’t want to proceed any further with the deal. You can get the history report by using the vehicle identification number, or even with the license plate. AutoCheck and Carfax are the most popular places to get history reports. They’ll let you know what you need to know, including if it has a salvage title, which means that an insurance company has declared the car a total loss.
Have the car inspected. – You’re still not done doing your homework, unfortunately. Before you buy the car, you’re going to want to get it inspected. Take it to a trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection so you can find out if there’s anything wrong with it. That way, if there is, you can walk away, and save thousands.
If you do your homework and thoroughly research a vehicle before you buy it, you’ll know what you’re getting into. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a lemon, and no one wants to try to make lemonade with that.
If you have any questions, feel free to share in the comments.
