How Do I Choose the Best Second Hand Car?

In the minds of some people, buying a “used” or “pre-owned” car is equal to buying someone else’s problems. But this doesn’t have to be the case. If you want to find out how to choose the best second-hand car, you will probably need to focus on a few basic ideas.

First of all, try to find a good second-hand car that has been traded only because the owner wanted a different style of vehicle or a larger vehicle. There are great cars like this around and you can find them, especially if you have a good relationship with a salesperson at your local dealership.

If you find an advertisement about or hear about a car for sale ask why the car is being sold. Private sellers may not tell you everything you need to know but if you pay attention you can find out a lot about the seller and the car.

If You Don’t Know, Ask!

Perhaps the most important step in choosing a second-hand car is the first: ask questions. We just mentioned asking why the car is being sold. This is one of the crucial questions all buyers of used cars should have ready. Don’t jump at the first opportunity until you have asked some of the essential questions about car purchases.

For example, ask yourself what kind of car you are really looking for. Make sure the car or cars you are considering fit the plans you have for the vehicle. Do you need exceptionally good gas mileage? Do you need a low-mileage car that you plan to keep for a long time and for long distances occasionally? How much can you afford to spend? Set a price range so that you have some guidelines to go by.

As you get ready to buy a second-hand car, pick out several local sellers and look for cars being offered by private sellers. Some salespersons at local dealerships will be great connections to good used cars. But you should also look at classified advertisements in local newspapers, ads in car-trader magazines and at online sites. Don’t go for the first car that catches your eye. This piece of advice leads to another important step in buying a second-hand car.

Drive It

If you can’t tell much about car condition from a personal inspection, ask a knowledgeable friend to go along with you. A second opinion about pre-owned cars is always a good idea. Don’t put money on the table until you have driven the vehicle. Be sure to drive at highway speed as well as in local traffic so you can test the car’s performance under various conditions.

If you can, have a third-party inspect the car. This may help you avoid repair expense later. Look for things like unusual tire wear, doors and trunk that don’t open and close properly, fluid leaks etc. Be aware of local and state laws that protect buyers of second-hand cars. Some states have solid “lemon” laws.

Above all, take your time when buying a second-hand car. You’ll be glad you did.