What to look for when buying a used car?
Understand a mechanic is not a psychic. An it “looks good today” can be a dead car tomorrow. Look for service history, vehicle history (like CarFax). Look for consistent patterns of oil changes and tire rotations, alignments etc. You are taking on something with history, make sure its a good one.
When is the best time to buy a used car?
Buy a car that is about 3–4 years old with no more than 50,000 miles. Cars depreciate most in value in their earlier years, while barely depreciate in later years. A car will lose 20–30% of its value as soon as you drive it off the new car lot, while it loses ~5% in value per year in its later years.
Where is the best place to buy used cars?
The curbstoner is an unlicensed dealer, buying and selling large volumes of used cars, unregulated, un-inspected, and often unethically. They populate craigslist, backpage, the nickle ads, places like that.
Do you have to inspect an used car before buying it?
The Vital Prepurchase Inspection. Experts agree that used cars must be inspected by a qualified specialist before the final negotiation for purchase. The ordinary car buyer, even if mechanically savvy, really can’t do it justice.
What to consider when buying a used car?
Most buyers will take out a loan. If doing so, calculate how much money you can spend on the monthly payments. In addition to the initial or recurring costs, remember to budget for other expenses related to the car. These include insurance, registration and fuel.
Can a car buyer tell if a car is a peach or a lemon?
The ordinary car buyer, even if mechanically savvy, really can’t do it justice. A thorough, professional inspection can tell you whether you’re about to buy a peach or a lemon. You should try to have the inspection performed by a mechanic with whom you’ve already built a relationship.
Where can I find a good used car?
Here are some tips to help you find a great used car. You can find used cars for sale in several places, ranging from private parties selling their own used cars to franchised new car dealers. Between the extremes are locally owned used car lots and used car supercenters, such as CarMax and Carvana.