Best Used Cars - Finding the Value

Tips To Finding The Best Used Cars

What began years ago with a few major used-car lots in each city has since exploded into a wealth of options for finding a used car, from boutique resellers to online auction sites and listings that carry hundreds of vehicles at once. With so many more options, there are also more opportunities to make car buying mistakes.

When you are looking for the best used cars and want to get the best possible value, it’s important to understand the different types of sellers and how each may be able to give you a bargain. From friends down the street to major manufacturers, there are pros and cons to each scenario. It pays to narrow down your search to a few selected makes and models that you're interested in, and will fit in the budget you set for yourself.

Buy From Someone You Know
A simple way to find the best used cars is to ask around among the people you know. It's a great benefit to know the person you're buying from, especially if you know something about their driving style and the way they have maintained their car. Workplace bulletin boards and auto clubs can also get you in touch with motivated sellers, particularly if you can access a large community. It's great to do your research online, but never buy a used car online without meeting the seller, researching that specific car, and having a mechanic look it over.

Research and Inspect
It's very important when buying a used car to get information about the car’s history and condition. If a seller isn't willing to give you the car's VIN so you can do some research on the car, consider that a red flag and move on to another seller. It's also important, once you have found a car you're interested in, to ask the seller to let you get the car checked out by an auto mechanic you trust. Again, if the seller isn't willing to do that, then that's not a used car you should consider buying.

Check Out the Dealers
Some of the best used cars can be found at car dealerships. Some manufacturers even “certify” their used cars, essentially giving each a pristine bill of health and extension of the warranty. That means you can get your hands on a pre-owned car whose maintenance and history is documented. The more documentation a car seller can provide, the more confidence you can have that you are finding a good used car. Just be sure to do some comparison shopping on price and some background research on the car's dependability.