Used Car Shopping Should Be Fun

As a single mom who knows nothing about automobiles, shopping for a new used car can be a daunting task. I don't have the money to waste on buying a lemon. Over 78% of women like myself who buy a used car are not happy with it. Hopefully this article will shed some light on some things women can do to make buying a new used car more pleasurable.

1. Give yourself some time. The last thing you want to do is feel rushed to buy a car. Set aside a day to go car shopping without bringing along your checkbook. See what you like and take some notes. If you have a digital camera take some pictures as well. You can review them later at home when you are not feeling pressured to make a discussion.

2. Decide on your spending limit. Under no circumstances should you let yourself be talked in to purchasing a car that costs more than your set limit. This will put a financial strain on you that will cause more stress in your life and take away from the fun of purchasing a car. My sister fell in to this trap and ended up hating the car she bought. It is too late because she is stuck with it.

3. Bring someone with you. Preferably a mechanic or someone who knows about cars. Have them check under the hood. I also had my person test drive the car. They should know better if the car is pulling to one side, etc. than you. Finally, have your friend check under the car to see if there was any previous flood damage. It is a lot more common than you would think.

4. Get the vehicles VIN number and check it out online. There are plenty of sites that will tell you how many previous owners there were, where they were from, and if the vehicle was in any previous accidents. I did such a search on my Dodge Caravan before I purchased it. I was able to find out it only had one previous owner and that there were no reported accidents. It cost $19.99, but it was a small price to pay to ensure I was getting a decent car.

5. Visit more than one lot. Don't limit yourself to one location. There are tons of used cars out there for sale. In one day I visited about 8 sites. Compare prices and take note of how clean or dirty the car lot itself is. You want to buy from someone who takes pride in his or her establishment. You will have a better chance of buying a car that isn't going to fall apart the next day.

Following these tips will make your shopping experience a much more pleasurable one.