Posted Wednesday, Jan 26, 2022
The stress of buying a used car can be intimidating. Here are our best tips for buying a used car so you don’t drive off with a lemon.
The main reason for the stress? Lack of information and being unprepared. Stay focused before visiting the dealership. Salespeople will often try to upsell you on something more expensive, don’t get distracted from your budget and goal.
We don’t want you to feel that way. At City Wide, we want this experience to be exciting and beneficial for you and your future passengers. Driving your dream is our mission and we want to accelerate your future.
The following steps will help you get there.
Start your search by deciding what you can afford and how you will pay for it. Paying full cash means you avoid interest, monthly payments, and credit checks. But, believe it or not, getting a loan can help you gain financially.
If your credit score is low, or you have plans to apply for a loan later on (like a house), having good credit will increase your chances of getting a higher loan amount.
Many dealerships will give you cash back and bonuses like oil changes if you finance through the used cars dealership.
If you have enough cash on hand to purchase a car outright, your money is gone. But, if you finance a car at a low-interest rate, you can keep the bulk of your cash in the bank where it will draw interest and can earn you more money.
Emergencies happen, prices of bills, gas, and groceries increase, and a host of other things you may need money for. Never deplete your savings entirely for anything.
Dealerships of pre-owned vehicles may have a limited warranty as part of the financing deal.
Check out all options, incentives, and financing terms and conditions before buying a used car.
For financing, City Wide beats most dealerships as regardless of credit history we help you get into your dream used car. We’ve got creative financing options so that no matter what, we can help you drive your dream.
With all the nifty features in cars nowadays it’s easy to get swept away with the bells and whistles and lose track of a car’s purpose: To get you from point A to point B.
That’s not to say the cool tools aren’t worth it (who doesn’t love heated seats??), but it’s important to separate your wants from your needs.
Similar to a pros and cons list, create a needs vs. wants list. Think about what you need the vehicle for and then work on the wants.
Do you… drive a lot on the highway or freeway?
You need a car that is well taken care of and continue to keep it maintained to expand its life. You might want a car with low mileage as you will accrue more miles driving longer distances.
Do you… drive in the mountains?
You will likely need a truck or SUV with 4-wheel drive, a more powerful engine, great suspension, and higher ground clearance. You might want tons of cargo room, driver safety features, traction control, or those coveted heated seats and steering wheel.
Do you… deal with stop ‘n go of city driving?
You need something with great gas mileage and great maneuverability (think tight turns and congestion.) You might want driver safety assist, parking assist, rearview camera, and deep cupholders for when you have to slam on the brakes. Trust us on this.
Think about how you will use your vehicle and what your must-haves are. The point of any vehicle is to get you where you need to go safely and reliably. The rest is just gravy.
Alright, you’ve got your finances in order and you know what you need and want. Now it’s time to… Go Shopping!
Cue the dreaded groans.
There’s a reason people hate shopping for cars. In fact, there are a few. People don’t want to pay a lot, there is always a risk of the pesky lemon, and haggling with dealers is just … terrible.
The good news is if you have a plan to buy a used car you can turn that frown upside down! After you’ve figured out how you’re going to pay for the car and have an idea of what you need you can start researching the vehicles that will fit your budget and your drive.
By the way, City Wide has an amazing filter system so you can look for the options you need and the options you want!
What you need to ask yourself is what you want from a dealership and then look for is the proof behind those statements.
Do you want a warranty with your purchase?
Would you want regular maintenance included?
Do you want easy financing options?
Do you want tags, taxes, and fees included?
By the way, if you answered yes to the above questions, have we got a deal for you! City Wide provides all of that and more!
The last step when deciding to buy a used car: The Test Drive. This is the most important step in the process. You will need to drive the car and test each feature to ensure things are in top shape.
Some of the things you will want to test out are:
Any of these items that aren’t in top shape can help you as you negotiate a better purchase price or veto the vehicle altogether.
Avoiding buyer’s remorse is what every car shopper seeks to find when buying a used vehicle. At City Wide, we turn lemons into lemonade with our full-service system complete with fantastic financing, a limited power train warranty, fee payments, lease options, and so much more.
Our customers have enjoyed fabulous service, free oil changes, credit options, and optimal trade-in value. Our inventory changes frequently and if you have a specific car in mind, we’ll do the shopping for you!
Getting on the road has never been easier and we want to help you get where you’re going. Give us a call or stop by today and let’s get started!