Tips for Buying Used Cars

In the midst of a pandemic, the safest mode of transportation is by using your own private vehicle. It can prevent you and your family from contracting the virus from other people. But not everyone can buy a car in an instant, and not everyone can buy a brand new car.

Buying a used car is a great way to save some cash, but finding the right one could be challenging. This is why we have created a list of tips to help you find the perfect used car to fit your lifestyle.

1. Budget

If you are going to apply for a loan to pay for your car, your monthly car payment should not be more than 20% of your monthly income. And if you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider spending even less. Used cars need a little more attention from time to time compared to a brand new car. Paying for new tires and the car's maintenance isn't cheap, so you would need to have extra cash for that.

If you are eyeing a car that is out of warranty, you might want to set aside an extra fund that would cover unexpected repairs.

2. Create a Target List of Used Cars

We all know that Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are nice cars from reputable makers, but they also cost a few thousand dollars more compared to Optima by Kia or Ford Fusion which are also good brands and models. So, if you want to save some money, try to look for more than one brand. Creating a list with at least four cars that fit your needs and budget is a must.

If you are planning to purchase a used car that is less than five years old, look for a vehicle that is certified pre-owned (CPO). CPO vehicles have longer warranties backed by the car brand, not just from the dealer selling it to you.

3. Compare Prices

You can find used cars in independent car lots, new car dealerships, websites where private individuals list their cars, and used car retailers. Out of these four, you can find the lowest selling price from the private individuals who sell their own cars. Most of the time, CPO vehicles cost more.

You might want to check how much other people pay for the models that made it to your list.

4. Check the Reviews and Rankings

Checking car reviews is one of the most critical steps in buying used cars. You can look for an online owner's group and see the issues owners experienced with specific vehicles. You can find people talking about transmission issues they experienced after reaching the 70,000 miles mark.

Owner's groups are a perfect source of information about maintaining your own car.

5. Know the Vehicle History

Getting a vehicle history report is essential in buying a used car, especially if you are not buying from a family member or a friend who can vouch for the car's history. You would like to know if the vehicle you are looking at does not have a good history report sooner than later.

There are a lot of websites where you can find vehicle history reports. These reports can show important information about the car. You can also determine if the odometer has been rolled back if the title was declared a total loss by the insurance company. Most car dealers give these reports for free if they have the car in their inventory.

6. Know the Seller

Once you have a prospect for the car, don't go straight away to see it. You need to call the seller first. This is a good way to establish a relationship between you and the seller. This way, you can verify the car information, and you can also ask private-party sellers why they are selling their car. If you are buying from a dealer, you can call them to ask if the vehicle is still in stock.

The seller might mention something that was not in the ad that might change your mind to buy the car. But if things go well, you can set up an appointment to test-drive the vehicle.

7. Test-Drive

Doing a test-drive is the best way to find the right car for you. It is also a great way to check the car's condition.

Top 10 Used cars near me and Used cars near me websites

We ranked the best Used cars near me websites so that you can find what you need.

Last updated: 2024-10-28

Rank

Provider

Description & Features

Site

1

★★★★★

135 Data points

Used Cars for Sale Online Near Me | Cars.com
Used Cars for Sale Online Near Me | Cars.com
Browse cars for sale, shop the best deals near you, find current loan rates and read FAQs about financing and warranties at Cars.com.

2

★★★★★

125 Data points

Used Cars for Sale | with Free CARFAX
Used Cars for Sale | with Free CARFAX
A FREE CARFAX report comes with every used car and truck for sale on Carfax.com. Start your search for 1-owner and accident-free cars to get a great deal.

3

★★★★★

116 Data points

Cars For Sale By Owner for Sale Nationwide - cargurus.com
Cars For Sale By Owner for Sale Nationwide - cargurus.com
We'll help you find great deals among the millions of vehicles available nationwide on CarGurus, and we'll provide you with dealer reviews and vehicle history for each one. After all, over 30 million shoppers use CarGurus to find great deals on used cars and new cars in their area.

4

★★★★

107 Data points

Used Cars for Sale - CarMax
Used Cars for Sale - CarMax
Search for new and used cars at carmax.com. Use our car search or research makes and models with customer reviews, expert reviews, and more.

5

★★★★

99 Data points

Used Cars For Sale: 1,010,772 Used & Pre-Owned Cars | TrueCar
Used Cars For Sale: 1,010,772 Used & Pre-Owned Cars | TrueCar
Used Cars for Sale. Near. Go. OR. Find a Used Car by: Make Type Year Price Extensive Used Car Inventory. Over 1,010,000 Pre-Owned vehicles for sale at Certified Dealer s nationwide. Buy With Confidence. Get the ...

6

★★★★

92 Data points

Cheap Cars for Sale Near Me | Cars.com
Cheap Cars for Sale Near Me | Cars.com
Cheap Cars for Sale Near Me. New Search Sort Filter ... I recently bought a used 2010 Mazda 3 i Touring sedan from Loudoun Used Cars, and it was overall a very friendly smooth, easy, honest and ...

7

★★★★

85 Data points

All Dealers Nationwide – Autotrader
All Dealers Nationwide – Autotrader
Used Car Dealers. Browse used car dealers near you. Search by criteria like price and mileage to find the right car for you. Read used car reviews, research models and compare cars side by side. Certified Car Dealers. Find certified pre-owned cars from local dealers. Search our website for special offers and discounts from dealers who ...

8

★★★

79 Data points

Autotrader.com
Autotrader.com
Find used cars and new cars for sale at Autotrader. With millions of cars, finding your next new car or used car and the car reviews and information you're looking for is easy at Autotrader.

9

★★★

73 Data points

Used Cars Under $5,000 for Sale (with Photos) - CARFAX
Used Cars Under $5,000 for Sale (with Photos) - CARFAX
Find the best used car under $5,000 near you. Every used car for sale comes with a free CARFAX Report. We have 16,896 used cars under $5,000 for sale that are reported accident free, 4,676 1-Owner cars, and 21,274 personal use cars.

10

★★★

68 Data points

Used Cars for Sale - Find Great Deals with CarGurus - CarGurus
Used Cars for Sale - Find Great Deals with CarGurus - CarGurus
CarGurus Instant Market Value™ is the estimated fair retail price for a vehicle based on similar listings in the market. We analyze millions of currently listed and recently sold cars to determine the CarGurus Instant Market Value™ for a vehicle based on year, vehicle condition, trim, mileage, transmission, options, region and other factors.

Used cars near me videos considered

We analyzed 1,304 hours of the most informative Used cars near me videos. These videos stood out the most:

Local Used cars near me near you

Make & Model

New York, NY 10009

Major Auto Show

212 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Cash4Carz - We Come To You

71 Broadway, Ste 113

Bling Bling Auto Sales Corp

79-11 Cypress Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385

Next Car For You

109 Engert Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Major World

43-40 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Ideal Auto Exchange Corporation

13810 Hillside Ave, Jamaica, NY 11435

T & D Motors

2828 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11207

Amaral Auto Sales

295 Park Ave, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

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