Home | List of Articles | Submit an Article | Contact Us

Steps to Buying a Used Car With Confidence

(ARA) - Industry statistics show that almost three times as many people buy used cars as buy new.

To help consumers make informed decisions in the process, the experts at CarMax, America's leading used car retailer, have put together a basic list of the things to check when buying a used car.

1. Check the vehicle's safety features.

Consider a vehicle with air bags and anti-lock brakes. Not only will they make a car safer, but insurance companies sometimes give discounts on their rates for cars with these features.

2. Inspect the mileage.

Mileage is a good indicator of the vehicle's age, and the average consumer will drive from 12,000 miles to 15,000 miles each year. A late model used car may be more cost-effective and come with many features you may not be able to afford in a new car.

3. Check the mechanical condition of the vehicle.

If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, have a mechanic you trust check it for you. Fluids, lights, belts, power steering, the charging system, the air conditioner, the engine cooling system, the brakes and the suspension should all be carefully inspected for any defects and wear. And don't forget to test drive the car.

4. Examine the tires.

Uneven tread wear can be a sign that the car may need an alignment, or that it has damage to its suspension. Make sure the spare tire is in working condition with no damage or excessive wear.

5. Watch for frame damage.

Seriously damaged cars may be repaired, re-titled and sold in some cases, masking a vehicle that may not be structurally sound. When looking at a used car, check for:

-- rust around the fenders and bumpers, around lights, under doors and in wheel wells

-- cracks, dents and mismatched body panels

Cars that have been previously damaged may be more likely to have mechanical problems, and do not withstand accidents as well as cars that are structurally sound.

6. Check for cosmetic problems.

Common signs of wear and tear in used cars include cigarette burns, dirty upholstery, smoke stains, and paint scratches and chips.

7. Carefully read and understand the terms of any warranty offered on the car.

Don't hesitate to ask questions of your salesperson, and be wary of hidden conditions and exclusions that may be in the fine print. A reputable dealer will answer your questions completely and explain the details of the warranty.

8. Check the price.

The actual price of the car is only one of many factors that will determine your total price. Don't forget to compare financing rates, warranty costs, trade-in values and processing fees. The different features on the vehicle can also make a price difference. For example, a car with an automatic transmission is usually going to be slightly higher in price than the same car with a manual transmission. Research the vehicle you are considering, and find out what comparable prices are for similar vehicles in your area.

9. Look for a reputable dealership.

Ask around, and talk to previous customers of the dealer to find out what their experiences were like. A good dealer is more likely to be fair and up-front in price, value and condition of its vehicles, and won't pressure you to buy a vehicle you don't want. Hassles should never be part of buying a used car. Be prepared, and know what you're looking for.

About The Author

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: CarMax, the Auto Superstore, first opened its doors in 1993 in Richmond, Va. Based on input from thousands of consumers, it was designed to provide a convenient, hassle-free way to buy high quality used cars at low, no-haggle prices. Today, CarMax has locations in more than 20 major cities across the country, with both used-car superstores and new-car franchises throughout the United States. CarMax is also online at carmax.com.

This article was posted on January 17, 2002

Related Articles:

Finding Car Parts - Whether you are a backyard mechanic looking for inexpensive car parts to fill your customers' orders, or you own a body shop, or even a chain of body shops, you need to find car parts. However, car parts can be very expensive and can really bring down your profit margin. Especially, as a backyard mechanic, if you are fixing cars for family and frie ...

Free Yourself From Car Clutter: Five Easy Ways To Keep Your Car Organized When Traveling - It’s a common sight: soda cans, gum wrappers, and snack bags strewn all over the floor; books, magazines, and carrying cases haphazardly placed on a seat; and miscellaneous papers and trinkets shoved into any nook and cranny available. What is this disorganized place? A college frat house, a mad scientist’s office? No. It’s the typical disorgani ...

12 New Rules for the Car Wash Industry - It appears we need some new rules for this so-called car wash industry. Having studied the car wash industry for 20 plus years, it appears we need a few changes to balance the fairness of the market to the consumer and still retain a proper ROI to entrepreneur. There has been many a scandal in the car wash industry and perhaps you have seen the ...

Signage for Mobile Car Wash Vehicles - If you are in the mobile car wash business and you should be. Then you know that your clean work vehicles is your best piece of advertising. But what type of signage should you put on it? Your work vehicles will be very visible in the parking lots while you are working. It will be seen all day long as it is driven around town and when it is park ...

Toyota Reveals New Pod Concept Car With Exceptional Toyota Parts - Toyota has already unveiled a prototype of its Pod concept car, which has headlights that fade from bright to dull and change color to indicate happy, sad or angry moods, depending on how the driver inside is feeling. In a joint effort with Stanford University in the U.S and an Edinburgh based company Affective Media, carmaker giant Toyota has m ...

Buying: How to Buy a Car DVD Player - Nowadays, there isn’t a home without a DVD player, but one of the latest and coolest ways to electronically enhance your life is installing one into your car! Car DVD players come in all different varieties and prices, but even the cheapest ones will send you into movie viewer heaven! Steps: 1. Look for a car DVD player that you can ...

Nissan Exchange Revolutionizes Car Parts Replacement - Good tidings to Nissan vehicle owners! The Nissan Exchange is here to revolutionize the way car parts are replaced. What exactly is the Nissan Exchange? Nissan Exchange is a new program designed to give Nissan owners the performance from brand new parts with the service tag of used ones. Nissan Exchange caters to two auto body parts exchange, the N ...

For a Complete list of Articles with summaries Click Here