Closing a deal on a vehicle purchase

5 Tips and Tricks for a Better Experience Working with a Used Auto Dealer

Many people think of the car buying process as being intimidating and not pleasant. A number of people buy used cars and trucks. The sales of used cars and trucks in the United States have been going up every year for the last seven years. If you are thinking about working with a used car dealer, you are not alone. Having a good plan before you go to look at pre owned vehicles can make a big difference.

  1. Go over your budget. Before you even start to think about buying a car or truck, you need to take a cold, hard look at how much money you bring in every month and what bills you have to pay. You should spend no more than one-third of what your household brings in every month. It is important to remember that the sticker price is only one thing you have to pay for. You also have to pay for insurance and to register your car or truck.
  2. Pull your own credit report with a fine-toothed comb. Before you talk to your bank, credit union, or the used car dealership, you should get a copy of your credit report. There are a few reasons for this. You do not want to be surprised when you are asking for a loan by anything on your report. There are also often problems and errors that can be removed from your credit report. It makes a lot of sense to look it over and deal with any inaccuracies you find before you ask for help to pay for your new car or truck.
  3. Get approval for a loan before you go to see used car dealers. It is true that the vast majority of new and used car and truck buyers finance their purchase with a loan they got at the dealership, you can get a much better deal if you want in with an offer from your bank or credit union. You should start your search for a loan with the financial institution you bank with. If you have a mortgage, the bank or lender that has that loan should be consulted before you talk to the finance department. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  4. Think about what you plan to use your “new” car for. There are a lot of reasons a person or family may need a new car or truck. Maye your current car or truck has reached the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. Maybe you need a truck to haul items around. Then you may just want a fun car to tool around in on the weekend. Knowing what you want to use the car or truck for can have a big impact on what make and model you end up selecting.
  5. Go in and take a look at the used cars for sale. Many people think of used car dealers as being similar to vultures circling their prey and ready to pounce at any moment. Used car dealers have a reputation for not letting prospective buyers leave a lot without making a purchase, whether they can afford it or not. The good news for would-be car buyers is that this is an outdated and inaccurate image. Car salespeople want to make their customers happy and not oversell them or get them a loan they cannot afford to pay back. They want to help and can be great sources of information. When you talk to used car dealers and give them your budget, they can and will help you stay under it by showing you only the cars and trucks you can actually afford.

Buying a car from used car dealers or other places can be a fun experience. A lot of people enjoy trying out new and different makes and models of cars and trucks. Thinking about it this way can take a lot of the stress out of the process of getting a new car or truck. A good attitude can go a long way when you are making a big purchase such as a vehicle.

Sharing is caring!