5 Insider Tips for Finding the Best Quality Used Car

The thought of shopping for an older used car is enough to provoke anxiety and procrastination in even the calmest buyers. Scouring the lot at a local Lexington used car dealership to find a diamond in the rough doesn’t sound like a great way to spend an afternoon. What if we told you there’s a better – and more foolproof – way? And it doesn’t involve hours sitting in front of your computer.

The best advice we can give you is to carefully choose where you buy your vehicle. It’s always less risky to choose a respected dealership versus rolling the dice with a private seller or, even worse, opting for an impersonal national online dealer chain that uses algorithms to virtually match you with the right vehicle. Most of us aren’t quite ready to take delivery at an unstaffed vehicle vending machine.

Instead, turn to the best and most professional option: your local dealer. Sometimes the easiest solution is also the best one. Dealers take in hundreds of trades, one of which might be the perfect vehicle for you. There’s also the added comfort of knowing that if a used car is for sale on a dealer’s lot, it probably passed a pretty rigorous inspection.

If you’re shopping for an affordable vehicle that’s going to give you years of reliable transportation, follow our five tips to ensure you drive home with the best possible car for your money. You’ll be glad you did.

Tip #1: Know Your Budget

We highly recommend figuring out how much you can afford before you start shopping. Having a set budget keeps you focused and helps your sales consultant show you vehicles that match what you can afford. There’s nothing more frustrating than falling in love with a car that isn’t within your reach financially.

Save yourself the time and hassle and calculate your maximum monthly payment or, if you’re paying cash, know the top end of your price range and clearly communicate it to your sales consultant. Don’t forget to add local sales tax and any registration fees to your bottom line number.

Tip #2: It’s OK to Choose an Older Model

Believe it or not, there are plenty of older vehicles for sale with low mileage and minimal wear-and-tear. Even a ten-year-old vehicle can offer you great value without compromising reliability. It’s better to focus on your price range and then keep an open mind. Sure, an older vehicle won’t have as many modern tech features, but you’ll be more likely to find a fully-loaded, top-of-the-line option for the price of a low-end newer model year car with fewer bells and whistles.

This is where a great dealer can really help. Dealers not only take in trades, but they also purchase vehicles from auctions and other sources. Most dealers have an ear to the ground and can help buyers locate cars with specific criteria. Don’t be afraid to ask: just make sure you have a good idea of what you want.

Tip #3: Check the CARFAX History

Reputable dealers will provide you with a free CARFAX vehicle history report for any vehicle you’re considering purchasing, but if you try to go it alone, we highly recommend obtaining a CARFAX before pulling the trigger. Without it, you won’t know the vehicle’s history, and that’s a dangerous proposition that can lead to future headaches.

CARFAX reports will list any accidents or major repairs, as well as report flood or hail damage. If a vehicle has a salvage title, which means it was considered a total loss by an insurance company, the CARFAX report will tell you. It’s the vehicular equivalent of a human health history chart, and it’s vital for you to see it before you sign on the dotted line.

Tip #4: Read Older New Vehicle Reviews

This is an insider tip that true aficionados rely on to support their vehicle choice, and it’s one that will help you in a tiebreaker situation or even get you started thinking about the type of vehicle you want. The tip is, google the year, make, and model of the car you have your eye on and find third-party journalist reviews.

Sites like Car and Driver or Kelly Blue Book publish comprehensive new vehicle reviews, including long-term test drives, comparisons with other models, and personal impressions that help buyers discern the pros and cons of everything from fuel economy to ride characteristics. Even though you’re reading a review of the car from when it was new, it will still give you valuable, unbiased information you can use to help decide.

Tip #5: Consider an Extended Warranty

Aftermarket warranties sometimes get a bad rap, but actually, they can be a used car buyer’s best friend. The fact is, you’re buying an older car, so the factory warranty has likely expired. Your dealer has access to several different extended warranty programs to help cover major mechanical repairs on your used vehicle. It’s definitely worth considering purchasing one for peace of mind.

Extended warranties work like traditional factory warranties, except they’re designed primarily to cover major vehicle components, like the engine and the transmission. They come in a variety of coverage levels and terms, which your finance professional can explain in simple terms. They’re clear cut, usually underwritten by major insurance companies, and offer an easy process for filing claims.

Tip #6: Put Your Trust in a Sales Professional

We can’t emphasize this enough: find the right dealer partner. Even more specifically, align yourself with a sales consultant you like and get to know them on a first-name basis. It may take a while to find the exact vehicle you’re seeking. Isn’t the process so much easier knowing a professional has your back?

Your sales consultant can alert you the moment a vehicle arrives that might be a fit. You don’t have to scroll online classified sites endlessly, sending “is your car still available?” emails to strangers. Forget all that and single-source your purchase. Let a professional do the work for you, and you’ll end up with a high-quality vehicle at a price you can afford – without all the stress.

Find Yourself a Used Car

Buying an older used vehicle doesn’t mean compromising what’s important to you. You deserve to receive a reliable, high-quality car for your hard-earned dollars, which is why it matters who you buy from and where. Going it alone comes with a lot more risk, especially when the vehicle is approaching the 10-year-old mark.

There’s a better way, and it also happens to be simpler. When you buy from a trusted local dealer like Dan Cummins, you get a one-stop-shop for your purchase, financing, and all the necessary paperwork. You also have access to an array of aftermarket protection products designed to help you enjoy a stress-free ownership experience.

Why not let someone else do the hard work for you? It’s as simple as determining your budget, deciding on a vehicle type – or model – and asking your sales consultant to help you find a fit. Most dealers carry extensive used inventories, which means it’s likely that the perfect car is just sitting on the lot waiting for you. Simple is better almost always, and when it comes to buying a used car, the easier, the better.

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