What You Should Consider Before Buying a Used Car

Photo of author

(Newswire.net — September 22, 2017) — Buying a used car can save you a lot of money when compared to splashing out on a brand new model. Whether you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful or want to finally get behind the wheel of your dream car, there are several awesome reasons to consider a vehicle that’s been used before, including a better guarantee of reliability and the option to check service history.

However, buying a used car isn’t always an easy task – from unclear histories to pushy salespeople, there are lots of factors that could be putting you off. To help you make the right choice, we’ve put together some handy tips for buying a used car.

Tip # 1 – Time it Right

Unless you’re in a rush and need a new vehicle as quickly as possible, then it’s a good idea to time it right when looking for used cars for sale. If you are planning to buy from a car dealership, then be aware that most used car salespeople will have higher targets to hit at certain times of the year, which are usually based on quarterly sales. Because of this, buying at the end of each quarter is a good choice when picking up a used car; the end of March, June, September, and December are the best times to buy during the year – you’re more likely to get a good price and less likely to have to deal with a pushy salesman.

Tip # 2 – Take Your Time

One of the disadvantages of buying a used car is that there could be issues with the vehicle that is difficult to spot until you’ve been driving it for a while. Usually, by this time, it’s going to be too late since you’ll have already bought the car. Because of this, bear in mind that buying a used car isn’t going to be something that you can jump into doing within a matter of hours. It’s a good idea to shortlist car advertisements that you’re interested in and make sure that you have some time to view each one and take it for a test drive. If possible, take somebody else along who’s experienced with cars – an extra pair of trained eyes and ears can go a long way!

Tip # 3 – Work Out the Costs

With used cars coming in at a much cheaper price than their brand new counterparts, There are car finance for bad credit when looking for used cars. However, bear in mind that just because a used car is cheaper to buy initially, this doesn’t always mean that it’s going to be a cheaper option to run. Because of this, it’s important to work out all the costs of running and maintaining your used car before you buy it. Consider the price of auto insurance, maintenance, and servicing, and even how much filling it up with gas on a regular basis is going to cost you.

Do your homework before buying a new car, so work out if it’s the right decision for you.