Your Guide to Buying a Used Car

A "new to you" car is a great way to upgrade your car without having to pay the hefty price tag that comes with a brand new car. You can make buying a used car much easier when you know what to look for, beyond make and model. Consider using the tips below to help streamline your car buying experience.

What are you shopping for?

Make and model are important, but there are several other things you should consider in addition to those. Consider researching the following categories in the cars you like the most:

  • Safety
  • Operating Cost
  • Reliability

Safety should be one of your top priorities when purchasing a car. To ensure the car you are buying has safety ratings up to your standards, you can check SafeCar.gov. Thoroughly researching safety could help save your life in the event of a crash.

Operating costs are another important detail that shouldn't be overlooked. If you can't afford the maintenance (oil changes, brake replacement, new tires, etc.) on the car you purchase, you run the risk of shortening the life of the car. By doing a quick Internet search, you should be able to find maintenance schedules for most cars available. Once you have the maintenance schedule, call around to used car dealers to check costs for the various maintenance services you'll need.

Reliability is essential when it comes to transportation. If you can't count on your car to get you to work, school, etc., what is the point in owning one? While you are researching operating costs, take a few minutes to visit ConsumerReports.org. You can find out if the different makes and models you are considering have held up as promised over time.

Exterior red flags

When walking through the lot at a used car dealership, there are some red flags you can look for that may indicate a car's troubled past. Look carefully at the paint job, replaced parts, corrosion, tires, and trunk of the car. If a car has been in an accident, it may have exterior damage to these areas. Check the trunk to make sure it can open and close easily. If the tires are seriously worn, negotiating new tires into the cost of the car will save you from needing replacements as soon as you leave the car lot.

You can also ask your car salesman to provide you with a history report to make sure your potential car hasn't been involved in a major accident in the past.

Don't let buying a car overwhelm you. It can be made much simpler when you know what you should be looking for. Take a few minutes to thoroughly research any car you are considering buying. When you know and understand the cost and safety behind the car you are buying, you can help protect yourself financially and physically. Contact a used car dealer at a company like Kings Quality Auto Sales to start your search.

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