You know the drill. It’s time for a new to you car, but the process of buying a used car can be daunting. Never fear, Dice Auto Sales is here, with the five top tips to help ensure your next vehicle is all you hope it’ll be.
1. Know what you’re looking for. Before you go to any used car lot, know which types of vehicles you’d like to own. Only Chevy? Only Ford? Has to have four-wheel drive? Take a look at their website before traveling and know the options available to you.
2. Know what you can afford. Have a budget and know you can afford $500 a month? Ensure you don’t get starry eyed on the lot and purchase a vehicle out of your budgetary limitations. Better yet? Get pre-approved for your loan through your bank or credit union to know exactly what you can/should spend. Buying an older vehicle? Be prepared for proper maintenance or typical fixes/replacements needed. A car a decade old has an average of one issue that needs fixing per year. Having an emergency fund for items such as these assists greatly when they arise. Plus that $200-$350 bill to replace that alternator may be just one extra car payment, where a newer vehicle would have cost you that each month. Keep things in perspective, and be prepared.
3. Ensure you have a mechanic inspect the vehicle prior to purchase. When purchasing a used car, most are sold “as-is”. This means if there’s any issues after purchase, they are yours to fix. (Also, be sure to ask your sales associate about after-market warranties, which most dealerships have available for a fee!) It's pertinent to have your mechanic or a shop you’ve been to before and have them inspect the vehicle in full. While this can come with a fee, it's important preliminary work before deciding if a vehicle is for you. If there’s something that needs to be addressed, ask the dealership to have it fixed or to reduce the price so that you can get it fixed yourself. Missing this step could lead to costly repairs down the road, especially if the vehicle is pre-2010.
4. Reduce your payments by trading in your vehicle or securing a larger down payment. Most used car dealers will evaluate your current vehicle as a trade-in to reduce the purchase price of the car you’re looking to buy. Even if you think your vehicle is of no value – dealerships are at times in need of parts or can scrap certain components for cash. It’s also important to know that the more money you’re able to “put down” on your purchase, means the more money you’ll save on a monthly payment and over the life of a loan.
5. Bring a friend, someone you trust, along with you on your test drives. This has helped countless buyers in ensuring they are thinking through all possibilities. Friends tend to ask the tough questions, like, “are you sure you’re ok with two doors instead of four?” or “this truck has a really small back seat…I’m not sure about our camping trips when there’s five of us and you drive”. Think of them as the angel on your shoulder when the devil is convincing you to buy outside of your means or to purchase something you’re really not going to be comfortable with long term.
Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out to our experts any time at 517.708.8700. We're here and happy to help!
