Advice on Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can be a rewarding experience.  However, sometimes you end up getting a bad deal if you’re not careful.  With so many cars to choose from its easy to make a decision very quickly.  This is the biggest mistake that someone will make when looking for a used car to buy.  If you’re not careful with your purchase decision it could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

The YouTube Strategy

If you are new to buying used cars the first thing you should do is find some one that is knowledgeable in cars.  It’s almost like having a mentor in business, doing the same in making a purchase decision for an automobile is a wise move.  If you cannot find someone that knows a lot about cars the next best option is to go on Youtube and search for something like “how to buy a used car” or something like that.  If you are taking advice from one of these YouTubers, make sure you read the comments first.  If you see many people are disagreeing with what was said in the video then chances are the information is incorrect.  However, if you see lots of people agreeing with the video and commenting in a positive manner then it would be logical to assume that the information provided is good.

You can also find some information on buying a used car on blogs.  There are many web sites online that talk about cars in general and I’m sure you can find some categories on car buying.  Compare the information you find on the web site to what others are saying on Youtube.

When you are ready to buy and have all the information you need the next thing you will need to consider is financing and insurance.  If you need to finance a car visit your bank and ask them how much you qualify for a loan.  Most used car dealerships will be able to get financing for you on the spot but you really should check with your bank first to avoid disappointment.  For insurance, if you already have an insurance company on a car that you own you can call them and get an estimate on the car you want to buy.  Some people get shocked when they find out what the difference in rates can be on different cars.  If you don’t have an insurance company there are tools online that help you find the best rate.  Use these to get an overall idea of how much you might have to pay for the car you want to buy.

Private or Dealership?

You should consider both used car dealerships and private sale.  If you have a certain car in mind which you should, do some research on the prices of these cars and include things such as mileage and features.  You will see that this same car of the same year may have a large discrepancy in price.  This could be a result of many of reasons such as mileage and general condition of the car.

If you’re going to be buying a used car from a dealership they may offer you a warranty or included with the purchase price.  This is a good option to have as it will give you peace of mind.  Make sure that you have any car that you want to buy checked out thoroughly by a mechanic.  There could be hidden problems which you may not know about and even if you have a warranty from the used car dealership it may not cover those issues.

Conclusion

Buying a used car can save you a ton of money when comparing the prices of new cars.  Keep in mind the older the car the more chances of things going wrong so it’s best to buy a car that is no more than five years old.  If you are handy with cars and plan on doing mechanical work yourself then really age of the vehicle should not matter.  Best of luck in your search for a used car.