Purchasing a Used Vehicle

By: Ian Koch

If you are in the market for a new car or truck you may find
that the best financial move you can make is buying a used
vehicle. Not only do previously owned vehicles offer
significantly lower prices than new ones but with the advent of
certified pre-owned programs by auto manufacturers and services
like CARFAX the concerns many people have with buying a
previously owned vehicle have been alleviated. In short, you can
get a much better car at a greatly reduced price versus buying
new. There are several different sources of second hand
vehicles.

The classified section in most local newspapers is a good place
to start. So is the word of mouth. Then we have the used car
dealers not to mention all the vehicle auctions around where you
can do a real bargain. Last but not lease I must mention the
internet; this is probably the largest source of used vehicles.
From one window you have a view to every part of the nation:
Here you can search for any make and model, in any price class,
in any location all over the country.

While auto financing rates for used vehicles tend to be slightly
higher as compared to new vehicles when you look at overall
costs over the term of the loan you will quickly find that you
will still end up saving a significant amount. In addition, many
people find that by buying a used car or truck they can lower
the term of the loan which means less interest paid and more
money that can stay in your pocket.

When deciding to buy a previously owned vehicle there is a few
things that you can do to protect you from buying a problem car.
First, you should always obtain a vehicle history report for the
car through services like CARFAX. These reports will list all
the owners of the vehicle, major accidents, service records and
the title history. Once you have verified the car is clean you
should have it checked out by a mechanic. Most automotive repair
shops offer pre-purchase inspections that cost around $75 and
will include a comprehensive report of the areas checked and any
problems that have been found.

After you have performed the above you are ready to get down to
business. Use resources like Kelley Blue Book and NADA to find
out the average price of the vehicle in your area. With
previously owned vehicles there is a lot more wiggle room in
terms of price than with a new vehicle. Don't be afraid to
lowball on the price - you may be pleasantly surprised!

About the author:
Ian Koch likes to publish Auto Info and Articles. Check out his
comprehensive and informative automotive website cheap-used-cars.w-ela
nd.com