9 Tips to Help You Confidently Buy a Used Car

Do you need a “new” car but don’t want to buy or lease a new one off the dealer’s lot? There are a lot of used vehicles from which to choose. Some of them are good, reliable vehicles and some are not. “Buyer beware” was never more appropriate than when applied to buying a used car, truck or van. Buying a used car takes a little bit of effort and research, but with the 9 tips outlined here, you’ll be able to purchase one confidently, whether it’s for you or your teen driver.

  1. Before you start checking out vehicles, figure out what you want type of vehicle you would like to purchase. Do you have a particular make and model in mind? Once you decide upon that, you can begin your research. It’s helpful to gather as much information as you can on the particular make and model you want – pricing, features, etc. There are some online websites that can assist you in your research. Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) and Edmunds (Edmunds.com) are both great places to start.
  2. Next, you will want to learn more about the repair and maintenance costs for the particular make and model you are considering. A simple internet search will yield all sorts of information. You will most likely come across some forums for the particular vehicle you want to buy that will give you a good idea on some of the typical repair issues owners of the same vehicle are experiencing. You can also ask us. We are servicing many different makes and models and have definitely found there to be trends in repair issues.
  3. Now it’s time to start searching for your new vehicle. Local dealerships will have some used vehicles on their lots. Classified ads are also an excellent source. Let us know, too! We may be aware of a vehicle owner who is looking to sell the same type of vehicle you want to buy.
  4. When looking at vehicles, bring a basic inspection checklist with you. If you do an internet search for “used car buying checklist” you should be able to find something that will suffice. There’s also one you can find at bankrate.comhttp://www.bankrate.com/auto/18-tip-checklist-test-driving-a-used-car/
  5. You definitely want to test drive any vehicle you are considering. When you do, drive it on hills, highways and in traffic so you can look for any problems in the way the vehicle may handle.
  6. Don’t be afraid to ask to view copies of the vehicle’s service and repair records.
  7. Probably the most important of the steps, and one people often overlook, is having the vehicle inspected by your mechanic. That’s right, the certified technicians at Shade Tree Garage will complete a pre-purchase inspection on the vehicle for you. If there’s a vehicle that interests you, give us and we will let you know how to handle having use complete the inspection.
  8. Make sure you go to recalls.gov to see if there are any old or open recalls on the vehicle you want to purchase. You’ll need to know the VIN for the vehicle when you complete the search.
  9. The final step is to complete a search with a trusted database resource like Carfax.com. Records included in each CARFAX Report reveal important information about a car’s history, such as an odometer reading, existence of a branded title such as a salvage/junk title, or past registration as a fleet vehicle. Here’s more about what’s provided in one of their reports > https://www.carfax.com/company/vhr-data-sources

Once you purchase your new vehicle, we hope you will bring it to our auto repair shop in Morristown, New Jersey, for all your auto repair and maintenance needs. We will help you take care of your vehicle so it lasts a good, long time. Click here to schedule an appointment for a pre-purchase inspection now.