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

· Used as a Taxi or Police Car

It is important to note that your investigation is not just a matter of researching papers. Now is the time to physically inspect the car closely top to bottom, noting all problems that will require repair work either immediately or in the future. You should also pay close attention to any areas your earlier research indicated that might be troublesome.

When test-driving the car, keep your mind on specific issues and problems you know to be common with the car. Another important tip is to never listen to the radio during your test drive so you are able to listen to any and all noises that the vehicle may make during your drive.

Never rely on your own investigation; you should always get a second opinion. Find a mechanic who you trust and have them perform a full inspection on the car. The seller should not have a problem with you doing this. If he or she does, then this should be considered an immediate red flag that something is not right with the deal and something very wrong with the car that the seller doesn't want you to know about. The mechanic may charge you a fee to check over the automobile, however, if there is a charge involved it will be well worth the expense if it helps you avoid a horrible purchase and costly repairs in the future.

If your research and investigation lead you to avoid the car, you will have learned a great deal about the whole process of buying a used car. In reality all of your efforts will have increased your knowledge for your future car shopping ventures and at the same time you may have also saved yourself from a nightmare investment.