Used Car Buying Guide

The first of my used car buying tips is, BE PREPARED. Be totally thorough in your research. Decide which make and model you like and read reviews on the car. Find out about the different specifications available, how reliable that model is, how affordable it is to run, the service costs, common faults that particular model might have.

Your next step in how to buy a used car is to sort out your FINANCE. Decide on a figure that you can afford and don't go over it. Stay focused and you won'y blow your budget. Why not take a friend to act as a buffer. If you are going to finance your purchase you need to check your credit rating before going to any dealer. Ideally arrange a loan away from the dealership as this takes away profit from his back end. Auto Loan USA are a reputable company to arrange finance with. Secondly, this way you can make the arrangement at your leisure rather than under pressure.

Next , go out and TEST DRIVE a few cars that are the same model as this will give you a better base from which to chose the one in the best condition. Doing this will help you spot running faults.

Check the HISTORY of the car you want to buy. You DO NOT want anything that has been in a serious collision, suffered from flood damage (and there are quite a lot about). Nor do you want one with dodgy mileage, an ex rental which will have been abused or suspect financial paperwork. You can do this by making a note of the VIN number and visiting a website such as Carfax or Autocheck.

Create a basic buying guide for used cars by writing everything down. Acheat sheet is good! The categories are capitalised. There's nothing wrong with a cheat sheet!

Now that you have prepared yourself well you can stride into the dealership confident and comfortable. If the dealer starts to put you under pressure just make your apologies and leave. You are under no obligation to agree to anything. If you do want to haggle remember not to give anything away that could spoil your deal. Delay discussing what your trade in is worth until you have agreed the price on your purchase.

Congratulations! You have now prepared yourself and done your due diligence. If you do your homework thoroughly you will save money. Knowing every trick and stunt the dealers try to pull to separate you from your money could save you serious cash. Arm yourself with these inside Used Car Buying Tips and possibly save yourself thousands of dollars!