Used Car Buying Survival Tips
When you walk onto a used car lot, you are entering a high pressure sales environment. It is in your best interest to
be educated and well prepared. Many used car salespeople are quite aggressive, so don't let
them catch you off guard. Here are some survival tips from a former car
salesperson.
Tip
Number 1: Never buy a car on your first visit to a used
car lot. They will try to pressure you by saying that the "big sale"
ends tomorrow or that someone else is interested in the car you
want, but don't fall for it. Once you pick out a car you like, you
will want to do some research to make sure you are getting a good
price and not buying a lemon. If you don't walk away, you won't get
the chance to do the research and you could get
burned.
Tip Number 2: If the
salesperson who approaches you makes you feel uncomfortable, insist on
working with someone else.
Tip Number 3: Don't
buy a car until the end of the month. This is when the salespeople and managers
are scrambling to make their bonuses. They are more willing to
negotiate at the end of the month than they are at the beginning of the
month.
Tip Number 4: Make sure
you know how much the car is worth before you buy it. If you are trading in a
car, you can find out how much it is worth, too. The most realistic car
value research tool is at Nada.com. The used car industry uses NADA guides, so they can't dispute the results. You can
print up your results and bring them to the dealership to help you
negotiate.
Tip Number 5:
When you reach the point that you found the perfect car at the perfect
price, have it checked out by a mechanic before you buy. This will cost a
little money, but it can help protect you from losing thousands of
dollars. If the salesperson or manager won't let you take the car to a
mechanic, then you are at the wrong dealership and you should walk
out.
Tip Number 6: Make
sure you know the history of the car you're buying. Once you decide on a car and
are happy with the price, tell the salesperson to order a carfax report. Once the report is
ordered, check the VIN number (serial number) against the
car you're looking at to make sure it is the same. With a carfax report, you will
know important facts such as how many people have owned the car and whether it has ever
been in an accident.
Tip Number 7: Follow
the advice given above because lemon laws don't apply to used
cars.
