Car Buyer at a dealership

6 Essential Steps for Buying a Quality Used Vehicle

If you’re worried about money but are in need of a quality vehicle, make sure you’re looking at used cars for sale instead of paying full price for brand new vehicles. Pre owned cars in 2019 are still exceptional automobiles, since they are manufactured using the same technology as newer models. The only difference is most used cars have had an average of three owners, there are a few more miles on them, and they might not have the most updated bells and whistles, but they are still great cars.

Here are some important tips for not only finding used cars for sale, but purchasing a quality vehicle, as well:

  1. Get preapproved — Getting preapproved for a used car loan will help you figure out what you can actually afford and the interest rate for which you qualify.
  2. Get a credit report — Simply get a free credit report to determine your credit score before you start looking for used vehicles on the market.
  3. Write down exactly what you want — Start by making a list of all your wants and needs in a used vehicle. If you can find a car that meets around 80 or 90% of those needs — go for it!
  4. Narrow down your search — As you continue to research vehicles that will be perfect for you, start narrowing down and build a target list of vehicles that you want to purchase. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get that list down to four or five cars, which is much more manageable.
  5. Talk to the dealer — Once you arrive at a legitimate used car dealership, spend some time discussing prospective vehicles with a dealer. They are there to help you and will inform you of all the car’s great features.
  6. Go for a test drive — Make sure you always ask for a test drive before making a final purchase. You might end up hating the vehicle once you actually drive it, so it’s important to get a good feel for the car early on in the car-buying process.

If you want to learn more about finding used cars for sale, give Auto Sales and Service a call today.

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