Used Car Buying Tips
Used Car Buying Tips
When you walk onto a used car lot, you are entering a high
pressure sales environment. It is in your best interest to be
educated and well prepared. Many used car salespeople are quite
aggressive, so don't let them catch you off guard. Here are some
survival tips from a former car salesperson.
Tip Number 1: Never buy a car on your first visit to a used car
lot. They will try to pressure you by saying that the "big sale"
ends tomorrow or that someone else is interested in the car you
want, but don't fall for it. Once you pick out a car you like,
you will want to do some research to make sure you are getting a
good price and not buying a lemon. If you don't walk away, you
won't get the chance to do the research and you could get burned.
Tip Number 2: If the salesperson who approaches you makes you
feel uncomfortable, insist on working with someone else.
Tip Number 3: Don't buy a car until the end of the month. This
is when the salespeople and managers are scrambling to make
their bonuses. They are more willing to negotiate at the end of
the month than they are at the beginning of the month.
Tip Number 4: Make sure you know how much the car is worth
before you buy it. If you are trading in a car, you can find out
how much it is worth, too. The most realistic car value research
tool is at Nada.com. The used car industry uses NADA guides, so
they can't dispute the results. You can print up your results
and bring them to the dealership to help you negotiate.
Tip Number 5: When you reach the point that you found the
perfect car at the perfect price, have it checked out by a
mechanic before you buy. This will cost a little money, but it
can help protect you from losing thousands of dollars. If the
salesperson or manager won't let you take the car to a mechanic,
then you are at the wrong dealership and you should walk out.
Tip Number 6: Make sure you know the history of the car you're
buying. Once you decide on a car and are happy with the price,
tell the salesperson to order a carfax report. Once the report
is ordered, check the VIN number (serial number) against the car
you're looking at to make sure it is the same. With a carfax
report, you will know important facts such as how many people
have owned the car and whether it has ever been in an accident.
Tip Number 7: Follow the advice given above because lemon laws
don't apply to used cars.