Used Car Shopping Tips

Do you get stressed at the thought of buying a car? These tips below will hopefully give you an advantage going in the door of the dealer!

Car shopping doesn’t have to be tricky, especially used car shopping. You can turn it into something fun and in your favor. That’s what I’ve strived to do with my 2008 Saturn Aura and 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada. Here’s a few tips to help you navigate used car buying.

1. Know what you want and the price you want to pay - This might seem basic, but having the basics established before you walk into a dealer is key. Know what you can afford in your budget, what you’re looking for in your next vehicle in terms of safety, convenience features, etc., and then perform the necessary research to find out what vehicles offer what you want/need in a purchase.

2. Don’t be afraid to negotiate - Getting the best deal out of anything in life requires advocating for yourself, and that includes car deals. If you feel in your gut a price is too high, bargain on it! This often requires research so you know what similar vehicles are selling for, but leaves you more informed about the products and situation you’re walking into.

3. Don’t be afraid to “get dirty” and inspect the car yourself top to bottom, inside and out - For my Bravada I just got, it was a great deal at $3,700 - lower than any Bravada within several hundred miles! But I had to check the car out to ensure it was worth the deal. I looked under the hood, looked under the bottom of it, went for a full test drive, check all exterior lighting, checked the Carfax, had a checklist of trouble spots I was looking for... This all took planning, but the key word is “check”! 

4. Never drive off without making sure everything is in working order how you want it. Any issues you notice, report them to your salesperson and say, “I don’t want to drive this vehicle off the lot until these issues are resolved so I’m safe.” Note that some dealers may try to wiggle out of the responsibility to fix the car - Todd Wenzel in Davison, MI fixed several of the things I pointed out, but did leave a few tasks undone. I’m still very appreciative either way.

Bonus: If you choose to finance a cheaper car, it can be a solid way to build credit. Keep up with your payments and again - make sure it fits well within your personal budget and is decently maintained so it’ll last while you’re planning your life out and building.

So there you have it, a few tips from my own experience buying cars. Have any of your own to add? Feel free to state what you know. Happy hunting!

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