How to Buy a Used Car

If you are thinking of buying a used car or truck you may have concerns associated with the deal, and rightfully so. The stresses of buying a pre-owned vehicle can include making sure the car has never been in an accident, repair history, research on how much the car in question is really worth and a trip to your mechanic.

Although one can never be 100% sure if they will pick a winner or get stuck with a lemon there is a two step process that should be followed to help you get the best car for the best deal possible: Research and Investigation. Research refers to the gathering of background information on the vehicles make and model. Investigation refers to carefully checking out the automobile itself taking it for a test drive, and having a mechanic check it out.

Research, Research, Research

Research the car in question. Research it carefully. Consult the Kelly Blue Book and find out its current estimated value, but don't stop there. Find out what kind of problems that the type of vehicle in question most often experiences. Check into any and all factory defects and recalls the car may have. Learn the car inside and out before making the deal. You can find all of this information at the library, surfing the Internet, or discussing the matter with your mechanic. You need to know what to look for and what the car is possibly worth before even attempting to make an offer.

Always make notes and write a checklist of all the things you will want to check out on the car you are looking at. Make sure you bring all your notes with you, along with any questions you may have for the owner.

Investigate

Always ask to see the cars service records. These records can show a lot of important details about the cars history and give you a look into how well the car was maintained and even possibly how the car was driven through its life. You should also invest in obtaining a CarFax or similar vehicle history report. This report can tell you if the car you are interested in has ever been:

· Flooded

· In a Major Accident

· Rebuilt

· If the odometer has ever been tampered with

· Fire damaged

· Stolen

· Leased or used as a Rental