There are a host of benefits to buying used cars. Most of the time, taking this route instead of investing in a new vehicle will help you to save a lot of cash. Also, whether you want a cheap little runaround or whether you want to buy the car of your dreams, when you start shopping in the second-hand market, you’ll always be inundated with choice.
When you do decide to buy a used car, however, just know that there’s always the potential for things to go wrong. Hard-nosed salespeople that have the gift of the gab always have and always make this form of car buying a minefield.
You can avoid nasty little surprises, though, by putting the advice below into practice.
Inform the DMV
Your state’s DMV department should be informed whenever you seek to buy a used car, as they will assist you when it comes to title transfer and vehicle registration. They will ensure that everything about your car-buying process is done above board. If you ever need to know anything about your local DMV office, make sure to head to DMV Connect; you’ll find information about everything you could possibly need or want to know, from licensing to insurance.
Before you buy a used car, it’s important to get a car insurance quote. Check with your existing insurer to see if they will cover the vehicle. You may be able to find a lower rate by bundling your car insurance policy with that of the dealer. If you purchase the car from a private party, make sure you have adequate insurance in place. If you are looking for a car auction, then you should definitely check this out, especially if you are looking for a car that is reliable.
Head to the dealership at specific times
Crammed dealerships are not ideal for people that want to unearth a bargain buy. For this reason, if you are able to do so, you should head to your second-hand car dealership of choice at these specific times:
- Weekdays
- Before payday
- In the holidays (both over Christmas and throughout the summer)
In this instance, you should also take the type of car you are looking to buy into consideration. If the dealership that you head to only deals in convertibles, for instance, then you might want to consider visiting it in the winter, as demand for that type of car will heighten in the summer. On the other hand, the demand for 4×4 cars lessens in the summer as it is very much a winter-type car.
Check out as many dealerships as you can… and pit them against each other
There’s nothing wrong with shopping the market, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with pitting dealerships against each other. By doing so, you could bring the asking price of your dream car right down.
To buy a second-hand car that is worth the money you spend on it, you have to take the above advice.
