Automotive Articles

The first of my used car buying tips is, BE PREPARED. Do plenty of research. Pick your make and model and speak to friends,read reviews and see how the car is rated. 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. Figure out your budget and stick to it. Getting carried away could cost you plenty of money. 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. Ideally arrange a loan away from the dealership as this takes away profit from his back end. 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. You will soon recognize faults if you do this.

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.

Create a basic buying guide for used cars by writing everything down. Acheat sheet is good! Make a note of the categories I have highlighted. A cheat sheet makes the process alot easier!

Now that you are fully prepared you can visit the dealership wothout that feeling of trepidation. Leave if you are being pressurized. 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. Delay discussing what your trade in is worth until you have agreed the price on your purchase.

Congratulations! You have now prepared yourself and done your due diligence. The more effort you make the more cash you will save. If you really want to go the whole way and save possibly thousands you need to know how the dealers work their customers and make as much out of you as possible. Arm yourself with these inside Used Car Buying Tips and possibly save yourself thousands of dollars!