5 Things To Avoid When Buying A Used Car

Not Taking A Test Drive

You would be surprised how many used car buyers don’t test-drive the car before making the purchase. If you don’t test drive the car you’re buying, you drastically increase the risk of running into unexpected and costly problems. For new and especially used cars, you will want to test driving a few vehicles before making a purchase decision. This helps you avoid buyer’s remorse and gives you clarity on how the car drives before you take it home.

Buying Based On Appearance

Before you start looking for your next car online or in person, you should know exactly what you need from your future car. An example would be that if you’re looking for a car simply to commute as its main purpose, don’t waste your time looking at trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a vehicle that can tow a trailer, you shouldn’t be looking at sports cars. Shop for cars based on your needs and what fits your budget.

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Only Looking At Monthly Payments

You can save a lot of money over the long term if you can pay cash for your used car because you won’t have interest payments. If choose to go through with financing, its best to determine how much you can afford by creating a budget of your monthly income and expenses. However it’s important to note that if you shop based on the monthly payments alone, you could end up paying more over time. An example would be having a loan with higher interest rates but a lower monthly payment because of a longer loan term. Compounding interest would slowly but surely make that loan more expensive than a loan with a shorter term and lower interest rate, but higher monthly payment.

Not Viewing Vehicle History Report

When viewing the history report of a vehicle, you can check very important information that can affect the value of the car such as any prior accidents, problems with the car, and the number of previous owners. Not viewing car history could lead to surprise expenses you don’t want to see.

Failing To Have Car Checked By Mechanic

Not having a used car checked by a mechanic before you buy is almost always a mistake. This step can save you a significant amount of money if the car has major issues that you most likely wont be able to find yourself. The cost of an inspection could be worth the money it could save you in the long run.