For many of us, buying a used car ranks up there with going to the dentist or doing income taxes. Shopping is usually fun, so why is buying a car, especially a used car, any different? Well, first it’s a big risk. You’re going to spend a lot of money, and you want to make sure you spend it wisely. Second, a car is a necessity. If you blow it and get an unreliable car, you’ll spend a lot of money in repairs and you’ll be stressed if it’s not there when you need it. There’s a more risk to buying a used car than a new one, because the condition and the price are unknown. To top it all off, you’ll be working with a used car salesman. Although their reputation for dishonesty is largely undeserved, still this isn’t someone who has your best interests at heart. Don’t worry, though. With a few simple steps, you’ll be an expert used car buyer.

The first question is what kind of car you want to buy. Before you look at your first car, you need to sit down and identify your needs. Do you need a pickup truck? A little gas sipper for commuting? A van that can carry a lot of passengers? Something that you look hot in? Or are you open to different possibilities?

Next, think about price and condition. In general, an older car or one with more miles on it will need more repairs and not last as long as a newer or lower mileage car. But it will cost less. You need to know where you stand on this. You may be looking for the least expensive car you can find, knowing that you can handle the repairs. Or you might want to get a car that’s only a year or so old and is still under warranty. Or, like many of us, you fall somewhere between these two extremes. You’ll probably need to look at some prices to determine where in this price/condition range you fall. You can easily find these online.

The next step is one that many people skip, but it’s very important in getting a good deal later: Write down your needs! This is critical in order for you to get what you want, especially when you start talking to people who are going to try to change your mind. Write down the type of car you want, including some possible models. Write down your first choices, your back-up choices, and anything you definitely don’t want. Do the same for your price/condition range. For example, you might say that you want a Honda Accord with around 50,000 miles and you’re expecting to pay around $10K to $12K. You’re willing to go up or down 10,000 miles or so, and you have a list of similar models that you would accept. Your DO NOT list might include anything that costs more than $15K, anything with more than 80,000 miles, and anything that won’t seat more than 2 people.

When you’re out shopping, compare the car you’re looking at to your written criteria. Sales people will try to persuade you to buy what they have to sell. Their arguments may seem logical at the time. That’s why you need this written record of what you want. If the car you’re looking at fits your criteria, great! If it falls into your DO NOT list, walk away. If it’s somewhere between, take the time – away from the sales person – to decide if it’s the best option for you.

The trick to used car shopping is getting what you want. The only way to do that is to clearly identify what that is at the beginning.

Author Bio: Written by Hannah Valez. Used Cars Sullivan Used Cars Anaheim Used Cars Chicago

Category: Automotive
Keywords: used cars, used car shopping, buying a used car