Many people consider used car because buying it saves you money. You must know that on average, used car prices are almost 50% lower than new cars. This means you will be able to pay off your financing faster. Aside from that, the bulk of depreciation already happened leaving you with less depreciation.
A shiny, slick and new car might look great but you will be surprised with hidden or crazy fees. Buying used car will protect you from such fees. There are more reasons why used cars should be considered. The real challenge here is finding the right car for your needs.
To help you get started, here’s a handy guide to buying a used car:
Determine how much you can afford
As with anything, you need to determine how much you can afford. The rule of thumb here is if you are taking out a loan to pay for the car, your payment should not be more than 20% of your take-home pay. If you have a tight budget, you should spend less.
Used cars will need a little extra attention from time to time from new tires to maintenance and many more. You need to take this into consideration when you are determining your budget. If you are buying a car out of warranty, it is a good idea to set aside money “just in case”.
Create a target list of used cars
The next thing that you need to do is to build a target list of used cars. If you are looking to save money, you should consider more than one brand and create a target list that meets your needs.
If in this case you are planning to buy a vehicle that is less than five years, you should think about CPO (Certified pre-owned). CPO vehicles have long-term or extended warranties that are backed by carmakers – not just the dealership.
Locate used cars for sale
Now it is time that you locate used cars in glendale. To find exactly the car that you want, you need to filter your search by many factors like the miles on the odometer, price, features and the dealer distance from you.
Evaluate the history report
Unless you are buying a car from a close friend or family, who can vouch for its history, you need to ask the history report. The history report is important because it will give you an overall picture of the car’s condition. You should look at the bad history report for an incident report.
Contact the seller
Once you have a good idea about the car, do not run to see it. You need to call the seller first. This is a good way to verify the information about the car and establish a good relationship.
Test-drive the car
Finally, you can consider test-driving the car. Test-driving is the best way to know if it is the right model for you. This is also your way of assessing the car’s condition. At the end of this activity, you will get the feel of the car. While you are at it, check the indicator lights, seats, air-conditioning, sound system and engine.