Automarket Review

If you want to buy a new car, you at least know that you can trust the company you are buying the car of. Yet if your purpose is to buy a used car,  you need to do some home work to do on your part so that you get a deal that is really worth the money you spend.

But do not get it wrong, it doesn’t mean the used car market is weak. It’s just that you should find yourself a good car, or a car that has been well maintained - with a decent history behind it. This is very important particular with so many cars being totaled by floods and accidents. There are many fraud or scams going on in the used car sale. Avoiding falling a victim to such scams is very important.

So, here are some important tips you should follow when looking to buy a used car:

First of all you need to determine the model of the car and its make and model you wish to buy. Get information on the best rates for your chosen make, model combination from sites like NADA.com. This way you get to know how much you would have to spend on the car of your choice.

The age of the car is also important.  Make sure that the car you select for purchase is not more than 3 to 5 years old and one that’s been well handled by the previous owner. Cars older than this are really not worth buying as they can run into quite a few problems. If you are buying a car older than that, make sure you get a very good deal on them to cover the cost of any unexpected problems.

Check out the different car dealers in your vicinity. References from family and friends are helpful at this point. Keep in mind that when buying a used car is that getting a car from a dealer is better than buying it privately, unless of course you know the seller personally. A better choice than a dealer is a rental agency like Enterprise Car Rentals because they maintain the car’s engine pretty well. They send out cars for sale just after one or two years of usage, so you can be sure to get a pretty decent car. The only issue here is that the rates offered for used cars from a rental is higher than the one you get from a private seller or a dealer.

Look for the car’s Vehicle identification Number or VIN in dashboard of the driver side of the vehicle. Other places to look at are the driver side door and the doorpost, where the door latches when it is closed. If you do not find it one any of the places, check under the car’s hood, it may be a sticker on the engine. Use the car’s VIN to get the Vehicle’s History Report from carfax. The history report will give you all details about how previous owner(s) used the car, and even nifty things like an odometer roll back can be traced by this report. This will save you from any scam.

If you don’t find the VIN on the car, ask the dealer. If the dealer is not telling it to you, forget this dealer and simply go to a better one. Check to see if the car you are looking at was actually a flooded one. You can do this by looking at the car’s door hinges, spare tires and crow bar to find out if it is rusted. Look under the car’s seat using a mirror. If you find metal holdings that are rusted, it is a sign that the car was submerged in water. You really need to do the check whether the car’s been flooded because too many cars have become totaled and turned into junk as a result of the devastation caused by hurricanes.

When you intend to buy a car directly from a seller, do not buy the car in situations where the seller is not allowing you to drive the car, is not committing to anything in writing and if the seller is not the owner of the car. If the seller does not accept your bringing in a trusted mechanic for inspection, wants cash immediately or tells you to pay today, but will give you the title tomorrow, simply move on.

Once you buy the used car, make sure to get an extended warranty. It is one of the most important things you can get after purchase, as it will help to reduce car repair costs. You can get an extended warranty from either a car’s retailer or manufacturer.

If the car dealer you are considering says ‘either buy the extended warranty from me or lose your chance to get a loan approval’, do never give in and just get moving to a better dealer. Why? There is really no such policy in place between the bank and the dealer. There have also been complaints about dealers who take money for the extended warranty but never actually send it to the auto warranty company.

Try to get gap insurance for the used car. In case you took the car out on a loan and if the car was totaled or stolen, gap insurance can be a real lifesaver. It will cover the gap between the value of the car at the current market rate and the amount due on the car.

One thing you need to know about used cars is that Lemon Laws do not apply to use cars. The only state you can see this applicable is New York. Even there, the used car lemon laws provide coverage only for non-leased cars, which are purchased directly from dealers.

You should also make a check on the car’s engine coolant. If you see a green color, then the engine’s fine. If you see something rusty inside, once again pass over the car. This is actually a very simple test to finding out about the car’s condition and if the car does not pass this one, you need to pass over the car!

Test-driving a used car is a must. You can find a whole lot of things in a test drive. If the car’s engine makes undue noise, or you find it unable to smoothly and easily steer across traffic, it’s an indication of mechanical problems, which means additional costs to you after you buy the car.
Only buy from car dealers who treat you professionally. If you find something amiss in the way you are treated, go on to finding a better dealer. It’s not just important to be well informed on the rates for a particular used model, it equally important to find the right people from whom you can purchase it.
In case you are thinking about taking a loan to get the used car, consider paying cash upfront instead, because you will be paying more on the loan amount than what is actually the car’s worth, since you will have to pay interest on the loan amount. If there is no other way and you have to take a lease, see to it that the lease period is only for a couple of months.

We hope these guidelines will help you in buying your new used car

Tags: buy used car, buying used car tips, negotiate, used car, used car bargain