One of the easiest ways to save money when purchasing a car is to buy used instead of new. Even though the pandemic increased the price of used cars, it can still be the cheaper way to go in the long run. The challenge is finding the right vehicle; it’s almost like a treasure hunt.
Take a look at some tips for finding the best-used cars for sale near you.
Start Your Research Online
You have plenty of choices of websites that list used cars. Each site has similar information, just a different way of feeding it to their customers. Some even have the same cars because sellers often list their vehicles across several sites to maximize buyer traffic.
CarMax is one site that has a large inventory of used cars for sale with clearly stated, no haggling prices. On AutoTrader, sellers list their cars, and shoppers can filter by make, model, year, and price range.
Find Out What Others Think
Once you find a make and model that you want, the internet makes it easy to find out what experts and other drivers think about it. Check sites such as Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and AutoGuide to get a good unbiased review of the vehicle. Consumer Reports is an excellent resource for reviews. They include road tests in their write-ups, just keep in mind that in order to get a full review, you’ll need to pay a fee.
U.S. News & World Report is another option. This site reviews vehicles and gives each one a score based on performance, safety, and reliability.
Get A Vehicle History Report
It’s always important to get a vehicle history report on a used vehicle. CarFax and AutoCheck are the two big hitters in this industry. All you need to do is enter the car’s VIN and, in most cases, pay a fee to get a full report. This report is key to finding out important information about a vehicle. It will let you know if it has been in any accidents and if it has a salvage title, which means an insurance company declared it a total loss after an accident.
It will also tell you if the odometer was rolled back. If you buy a used car from a dealer, they often provide these reports for free.
Know Who You Are Buying From
It’s easier than ever to find out information about your local dealership. Review sites such as DealerRater are an excellent resource to find out about a dealership’s reputation. This site also has a Certified Dealer Program, so you can shop at dealers who have gone through the process of becoming certified. Cars.com also offers reviews of dealerships and their employees. You can search for a specific dealer or search within a certain vicinity.
Finding the best used cars for sale near you takes a little time and patience. But, with the right tools and resources right at your fingertips, it makes it easier to make sure you get something reliable and get it from a reputable dealer.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
