The Dos and Don’ts of Buying a Used Vehicle

Don’t forget to factor in extra fees.

Many times, people unfamiliar with shopping for a vehicle set their budget and are then upset or surprised when they see the total cost for their vehicle. There are several common fees that you’ll have to pay for when you buy your used car. For example, you’ll need to factor in the costs of a title and registration, as well as any other add-ons for your vehicle.

If you’re buying your car from another city or state, you may also be transporting your car once it’s bought. You’ve probably seen open transport trailers on the road while you’re driving, and EasyCarShipping is one of many companies providing this service to customers. Best of all, you can get a transportation quote on their website so that you’re able to appropriately budget for the cost.

Don’t go it alone.

If you’re headed to the dealership, you’ll want to make sure that you go with a friend or family member. This person can act as a confidant and a voice of reason while you face pressure from a dealer to add another feature or test-drive a vehicle outside your price range. If you aren’t able to have someone come with you to help you out while you shop, you can always tell the salesperson that you need to call your spouse or partner before making a big financial decision. This can be useful when it comes to staying firm and actually mimicks a sales tactic dealers will use when they head to the backroom to talk to their manager.

Do your homework before heading to the private sale or dealership.

It’s important to arm yourself with information before making any purchase. When it comes to a sale on a used vehicle from a dealership, you’ll want to make sure that you reference Kelley Blue Book for car values. This can help you stay within your price range as you shop. If you’re shopping from a private seller, you probably want to do a little bit more detective work about the person you’ve arranged to buy from.

Using a free people search, see what pops up when you search a public records database for the seller’s first and last name. These sorts of search engines offer information about criminal backgrounds and make it easy to find out if the person you’re planning to buy from is safe to meet. If their name or address doesn’t seem to match their phone number or other details they’ve told you, it might be a sign that they’re trying to scam you.

Don’t expect to out-negotiate a salesman.

When you’re shopping for a used car it’s always a good idea to temper your expectations. Even if you’ve read up on a variety of negotiating tactics, you should never count on your negotiation skills in order to get a good deal on a car. It’s much better to do your research and know that you’re getting a good deal upfront, rather than need to outwit another salesperson at the dealership. By having realistic ideas about the sorts of savings you’ll get, you’re bound to make better decisions.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category.