Used Cars Tips: 11 Recommendations For First-time Used Car Buyers
Oct 27, 2022
independent used car lots have plenty of good cars
Recommendations For First-time Used Car Buyers
Buying your first used car is a major step. You shouldn’t be intimidated, however, some prudence is necessary. Deciding which car to buy is much the same whether you’re buying a new or used car. The only difference is that in this case, you also need to think about things like financing options and exercise extra caution at the dealership and during your test drive.
To give you an idea of what it’s like to purchase a used car, we’ve come up with 11 tips. In our experience selling used cars at Eagle Motorsport, we’ve noticed that first-time used car buyers overlook a few things. We’re here to set the record straight and help you make your next purchase.
Should You Buy A Used Car?
Buying a new car is nice, you get that clean new car smell, plus, the comfort of knowing nobody else has used and abused your car before you. On the other hand, those new cars come at a rather ridiculous price, especially when you consider that the car’s value drops the moment you drive it off the dealer’s lot.
Therefore, you should consider your exact reasoning for buying a used car. You want a used car because you want to get a good deal. That means you might need to make a few compromises that you’re comfortable with. You should still expect the dealer to be honest about the car’s condition, and for the interior to be clean and properly inspected. However, you might need to sacrifice certain high-tech features and go for a car that has a slightly dated look.
Used car dealership
11 Tips For First-Time Used Car Buyers
There are a lot of misconceptions about buying a used car that we wanted to clear up. Here are 11 tips that will help you get started on the right foot. Some of these are advice, but others are essential if you want to buy your used car with confidence.
1. Consider Your Needs
If you’re thinking about car shopping, it’s often because you have a major life event coming up. If you’re starting a new job that’s 40 miles away, then you might have a major need for a car that you never did in the past. On the other hand, you want a car simply because your old one isn’t working out for you anymore. Either way, you have some underlying factors fuelling your decision.
Moreover, you should consider some of the things that you already do in your regular life. A sedan is good enough for making that long commute to and from work. However, it will probably fall short if you enjoy camping and outdoor sports on the weekend.
You should also consider whether you’ll have major life events coming up in the years following your car purchase. For instance, you might be about to have your first child. However, do you know whether you plan on having more? If so, that might decide your choice between a sedan and a minivan. Choose wisely.
2. Create A Budget (And Stick To It)
Since budget is one of the main reasons why you’re buying a used car in the first place, then you want to prioritize your budget throughout the car shopping process. Once you have a maximum amount you’re willing to pay, then that will narrow your options down substantially. Remember that the maximum price should also account for the taxes and licensing fees you’ll need to pay.
If you don’t set a budget before you start researching cars, then you might end up disappointing yourself needlessly. By making your choices clear from the start, you won’t get lured into a price, or an interest rate, that you can’t really afford.
Consider The Real Cost Of Car Ownership
Staying on the subject of budgeting, you must consider whether you can afford your monthly car payment. Of course, your gas budget will take up a huge chunk, so you should consider car mileage. That said, you should also understand that there are typical car costs that new buyers tend to overlook. For instance, you’ll need to replace things like brake fluids, go for an oil change, rotate your tires, etc. Furthermore, you should realize that the older the car you purchase, the more problems it will have. The same goes for vehicles that have a higher mileage too.
Oftentimes, the increased cost of your car correlates directly with how much car repairs will cost. You’ll also need to think about car insurance and taxes on your vehicle.
When you start researching vehicles, you should make sure that you compare their repair costs for your various targets. Use a tool like RepairPal to help you decide. Monthly expenses are a common tiebreaker when our clients are making their purchasing decisions.
Take the interest rate and other factors into consideration for your car’s monthly costs
3. Research Your Target Cars
Once you have a budget and a list of your needs in place, then you can begin actively researching used cars. During this process, you’re attempting to extract the greatest value while also discovering your exact needs from your next car.
A lot of people think that buying a used car makes it difficult to get one with the exact specifications you want. This isn’t the case. You can often find all sorts of optional packages that come with your used car depending on the dealership you buy it from. You could go for luxurious features like heated seats, or equip your car with tech gadgets as you so desire.
At the end of the day, it often all depends on what type of car you’re buying. You need to check what people say about the vehicle and how it fits in with your needs. For instance, you might find that a pickup truck with a V6 engine is a bit deficient for your hauling requirements. Therefore, you would seek an engine upgrade or find a different truck altogether.
The best way to shop for used cars is to take a bunch you think you’re interested in and compare them directly. Car comparison tools are perfect for this task. You can focus on the features that are most important to you and weigh your options. Pay special attention to things like gas mileage because such factors will determine the cost of your car.
4. Read Car Reviews
Knowing a car’s features simply isn’t enough for you to be able to make a decision. After all, slick features can sound good in theory, but you need to know how past drivers enjoyed them in practice. Therefore, you should read a few amateur and professional reviews concerning each car that you’re considering. You’ll soon realize that every car has its problems – it’s inevitable. The most important part is minimizing the downsides that you consider dealbreakers and you absolutely wouldn’t want to partake in. Look out for common themes across reviews. If the brake lights constantly malfunction, then you can be aware of that problem ahead of time and decide if that’s a risk you want to take.
The amateur reviews tend to be more critical and a bit sloppy, but they’re invaluable. That’s because they give you an idea of what it’s like to drive the car from the perspective of someone who does it on a daily basis. They’ll notice all the problems that creep in during their years of driving the car. Far more detailed than a car reviewer who just took a few test drives.
We must admit though, that professional reviews have their place. Especially when you’re just starting to compare different car options. They’ll give you a more detailed overview of how different features of the vehicle stack up and let you make your decisions from there.
You’ll also be able to look for some of the issues you read in the reviews while you go on your test drive. That way, you’ll be prepared.
5. Apply For Financing
When you’re comparing different cars, you’ll probably want to keep an eye on the price. You likely filtered your options down to the ones you know you can afford. That said, the price will vary from dealer to dealer, especially depending on mileage and the car’s condition. Sometimes, you’ll need to ask the dealer for their price because they won’t list it on their site.
On the bright side, many dealerships will offer financing options ahead of time. You could go to the bank, but it’s often difficult to obtain auto loans from them. Meanwhile, the dealership could get you pre-approved for auto loans, even if your credit report is less than stellar.
6. Take A Test Drive
Taking a test drive really allows you to see what a car is made of once you’ve narrowed down your list of desired cars to a small shortlist. Before you leave for the dealership, you’ll want to bring a partner to help be your second set of eyes and ears throughout the drive. They can help you test for common problems like malfunctioning brake lights, in which case they’ll stand behind your car to make sure all those brake lights and turn signals work. During the drive, they can keep their ears peeled for any suspicious noises coming from the car.
Bring a notepad with you ahead of time too. Following each test drive, you’ll have the chance to jot down all the pros and cons of the car to make your comparison easy after the fact.
Take a few cars for a spin
Your test drive should make the most of the car. That means you have full rein to pound on the brakes and get yourself into scenarios that require tight maneuvers. This will allow you to find out what it’s like to drive this car during the most challenging situations. Pay special attention to any vibrations, especially when you test the brakes. After all, a certified pre-owned vehicle will have all sorts of caveats associated with it even if you trust the dealer.
Bringing people with you on the drive is a great way to help you figure out whether the car is a fit for your family. For instance, you might have children who need to ride in the back. Bring along your car seat and see exactly how your little one fits in the car.
7. Test The Car’s Electronics
While you’re in the car, you should familiarize yourself with every aspect of the car’s electronics. Activate each vehicle function by pressing all the switches, knobs, dials, and screens that you can get your hands on. Check to see if the air conditioning, entertainment system, and interior lights function properly.
The degree of electronics and special features like parking assist that you get will depend on the age of the car. Don’t expect every car you test to have fancy electronics if your budget is tight.
8. Plan Your Route Ahead Of Time
Route planning is an essential part of preparing for a test drive, so we thought we should dedicate an entire tip to this point. Look at Google Maps ahead of time to see what the area around the car dealership is like. You should identify a route that is similar to the one you would usually take. Try to incorporate everything: bumpy side streets filled with potholes, steep driveways, and a highway on-ramp. That last point is especially crucial because highway ramps allow you to test a car’s acceleration and deceleration.
You might need to drive the route before you take it on your test drive so that you can get a handle on where the busy streets are and where to find each of those testing points we mentioned.
9. Read The Vehicle History Report
Vehicle history reports are the perfect way to ensure that both the car and the dealer you’re looking at are reliable. Any dealer that cares about their buyers will have your car inspected ahead of time. We like to give our clients both an AutoCheck and a Carfax report at Eagle Motorsport.
Once you comb through the data on your vehicle history report, you’ll understand important points like title status along with collision and theft history. This should make you confident that you’re making an informed decision.
10. Look For A Warranty
Some dealerships are nice enough to allow you a warranty on your car. These are especially helpful if you’re the type of person to change their mind later. As long as you drive carefully, you could get 1-3 months of driving protected or 1,000-4,000 miles, depending on whether you purchase an extended warranty.
11. Don’t Rush Your Decision
Rushing into a big decision like this one is never a good idea. Never drop tens of thousands of dollars on a car unless you’re confident that it’s the right choice. It should mostly fit the requirements that you came up with earlier in the buying process. Moreover, go over every page of the paperwork that you’re meant to fill out before you sign it. Reading all the terms will help you understand exactly what you’re signing up for, especially if you’ve chosen to receive help with financing the car.
We mentioned that you should bring a partner on your test drive. We should also note that this partner will help keep you within your budget. It’s easy to get pumped up following your test drive, so your partner will be there to calm you down and hold you accountable.
How To Buy A Used Car
Now that you’ve read our tips for purchasing a used car, you can see exactly how the car-buying process can work for you.
Find A Car That Meets Your Needs
Follow the tips that we listed earlier to research and identify a car that meets your needs. Then, write down a list of cars that you’d like to research. You can do so by reading through a few car review articles that cover different market segments like crossovers and minivans. Furthermore, you should be able to compare those cars and narrow down a shortlist that you’d like to review in more detail. You can scavenge for car reviews before finally settling on a list of 2 or 3 cars that you’d like to take on a test drive.
Pick A Good Dealership
Above all, you need to pick a car dealer that has a car model on its lot that you want to buy. Don’t bother visiting a dealer that doesn’t sell the car that you want. You should also read customer reviews to ensure that the dealership is reliable. Pay special attention to the reviews that are detailed and perhaps 3 or 4 stars rather than 5 or 1.
Moreover, you might need to think a lot about financing your car purchase, so you’ll need to look out for dealers that have that too. Not all dealerships offer favorable financing terms, so if you want to save money, you’ll need to contact the dealership to inquire about them ahead of time.
If you’re lucky, your dealership will allow you to trade in your vehicle. This can help you get a hefty discount on the purchase price of your used car.
Go For A Test Drive
The test drive itself will only take around half an hour. However, you’ll need to plan to spend around 2 hours at the dealership when it’s all said and done. That time will include negotiation and filling out paperwork if you’re going to purchase the car. Stay calm throughout the process and as always, don’t rush into a purchase if you don’t want to.
Obtain The Vehicle History Report
You could also spend your time at the dealership reading the vehicle history report. Obtaining an independent inspection is important before you commit to any purchase. As a result, you’ll protect yourself from any issues down the line in case a past owner was hiding damage from you. One common scam is for car sellers to fake a car’s mileage and obtain a higher price as a result. You’ll need to exercise extra caution when dealing with a private party.
You’re Ready To Buy Your First Used Car
Once you’ve jumped through all the necessary hoops, you’ll realize that buying a used car is similar to any major purchase. There is a lot of research involved, and you have to be a bit more cautious than usual. Yet, when it’s all wrapped up you’ll find that your hard work to find a good deal paid off. You’ll be happier with your used car than you would have been with any new car purchases.
Come Out To Eagle Motorsport
At Eagle Motorsport, we have a wide range of used cars available for purchase. You can browse through our sedans, trucks, SUVs, and minivans and find a car that suits your needs. You should contact us if you want more information about financing or a specific listing.
We offer some of the most competitive prices in the Chicago area with extra-friendly service from knowledgeable sales staff. Our technical team reviews each car we receive thoroughly to ensure that your car is free of issues. You don’t stay in the business as long as we did without a good reputation and loyal repeat customers. Check out our inventory right now to find the right vehicle for you.
