Add to favorites Examiner Bio

Used car buying? Don't get taken for a ride!

Get Going

 

Buying a used car is a gamble. I have often heard, that buying a used car is taking on someone else’s headache. There might be a speck of truth in this statement but I believe, that if you check out the goods first and do so pretty thoroughly, you might not get stuck holding the bag. When buying a used vehicle, you really don’t have to know how to take apart and put together a car but you do have to exercise some common sense. So, this being said, here are some insightful tips (if I do say so myself) on how to buy a used car.

 

Here’s the Skinny…

 

Dealership or private owner? Decisions, decisions…. When buying a used car, unless it’s from a relative or friend (and even they’re suspect), take heed! For folks who are selling, the bottom line is that almighty dollar, so you have to look out for number one—YOU! If you have a particular dealership in mind, check them out first with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file. The Federal Trade Commission’s Used Car Rule requires dealers to post a visible Buyer’s Guide in every used car they sell. The guide specifies that it is deceptive for a used car dealer to misrepresent the mechanical condition, any warranty offered in connection with the sale, and to represent that a used vehicle is being sold with a warranty when it’s being sold without one.  Some dealerships offer a return policy, if so, get it in writing—don’t forget, if you need one, use a magnifying glass and read even the smallest print!

 

Flipping the script, a private seller is not generally covered by the Used Car Rule and does not have to use the Buyers Guide. A private seller can put the vehicle up for sale ‘as is’ unless there is a written agreement between the two of you. Many states do not require folks to ensure that their vehicles will pass state inspection or carry a minimum warranty before they offer them for sale. Hmmm…food for thought….

 

Perform due diligence. Ask the seller for the vehicle VIN number and by all means run a background check. High-tail it to the carfax.com or dmv.org sites to get the vehicle’s past info. A vehicle check will help you determine if you’re basically considering buying a lemon. The report typically reveals the following: odometer rollbacks; severe accident involvement; flooding; whether it was used in a fleet or rental; frame damage; number of owners; service records; airbag deployment…and so on. For a nominal fee, a vehicle report could wind up saving you quite a bit of money and migraines in the long run.

 

ALWAYS inspect a vehicle on a sunny day! You want to make sure you can see every little thing—mismatched paint, blisters (future rust), body cracks and dents, make sure the windows, doors and trunk close with fit and ease (if not, they were probably involved in a collision), uneven wear on the tires, look under floor mats, splits in the upholstery, hairline cracks in windows/windshield, turn on the air conditioner, heater, radio. 

 

Take the vehicle for a rollercoaster ride—go up and down hills, cruise along a highway, give it the ‘business’ on bumpy streets, rush hour stop-and-go traffic—fine tune your ears and listen out for anything that doesn’t sound right. Sniff out any funny odors during and after the drive. Become one with the vehicle, feel out any vibrations. Does the car pull more towards one direction? Is there way too much sway? Get a true feel for the brakes, really test them out—are they too spongy? 

 

After you’ve done your own preliminary inspection, you’ll need a savvy someone with nuts and bolts knowledge. If you can take along a mechanic to assist you in your purchasing decision, all the better. If you don’t have a mechanic, ask everyone you know for a recommendation—relatives, co-workers, mailman, Starbucks counter person! Still no one? Let your fingers do the walking and try looking for a mobile inspection service and hire someone who will accompany you to the dealership. Better yet, if the dealer will allow you to have a pre-purchase inspection at an Automotive Diagnostic Service center, then go for it! Look for a facility that displays the Automotive Service Excellence Seal (ASE) which indicates, that a few of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competence in certain technical areas. Don’t forget to get everything in writing! If the vehicle needs work done, get those repair estimates down on paper. You can use the estimates to bring down the cost of the vehicle when you negotiate.

 

Parting Words of Wisdom

 

Protect yourself, do your homework on the car that you’re thinking about buying. Sort out your finances, don’t spend more than your pockets can afford. If you can swing it, try to purchase a ‘newer’ used car, one that preferably has some of its remaining warranty left that is transferable (make sure that it is!!!). Look into Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles which offer new car benefits at used car prices. Listen, buying a used car can be scary business! I want to make sure that you know you’ve got options, if things don’t go as planned. Check out the box below for more info. And listen, it’ll be fine…I’m keeping my eyes, ears, fingers and toes crossed for you!

 

--Car Chick