Tips on Buying a Used Car
This post was sponsored by Cars.com. However, our purchase of a used car was not.
Several years ago, we bought Cady, our GMC Acadia. I love that car. There is something about sitting in an SUV high above the rest of the traffic that makes me feel safe and secure. Before we bought the Acadia, I had another SUV, a Saturn Vue, which I have since passed on to my middle daughter, Mikaela. When Mikaela left for college, she took the Saturn with her, which left us down a car. And with Gracie starting to drive soon, we knew we needed to look for another reliable, used car.
There were a lot of things we looked for in a car, so I decided to make a list to share with you. So here is a list of things to look for when buying a used car.Â
- Price – Of course, you want to find a car that fits into your budget. That when using an auto loan calculator would be helpful.
- Research the make and model of the type of Vehicle you would like and use websites like Cars.com to research. When we bought our Acadia, I had a list made up of three vehicles that I wanted- A Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and the Chevy Traverse. This time around we knew we were looking for a Honda, it didn’t matter the make or model. But knowing what kind of car you want helps make the decision-making not so overwhelming.Â
- Mileage- Sometimes, high miles can scare most people as they think the higher the mileage, the worse the car will be. But that isn’t always the case. Honda engines last forever; I mean, we still have a 1995 Honda Civic that has over 200,000 miles on it and still runs like a dream. And the Saturn that we have has a Honda engine as well. So researching the manufacturer of the car will most certainly help your decision.Â
- Dealer Reliability- This is a big one for us. We have bought five cars from the same franchise. We know that they stand behind what they sell and that they are not going to sell us a lemon. This last car we bought from the same person that we bought the Acadia. So if you like the way you are treated at a dealership, stick with them, less worry and less fuss that way.
- The Condition of the Car – A few knicks and tears are average with a used car. So if you find one in excellent condition- grab it.
I can honestly say that last Monday, we went out to look for a car with the intention of not buying but just looking. But once we drove into the lot, saw the car’s condition, and the fact that it was a Honda in our price range we were almost ready to buy. But when Raul went in to ask about the keys, and we saw the person we bought our last car from (mind you this was at an entirely different lot), we were sold.Â
So tell me what do you look for in a used car?
The Mileage! If it has too much mile on it, there is a tendency that it’s really old. Aside from the mileage, I also look for how neat the exterior and interior of the car is.
PS; I love Honda.
I like your point about how a high-mileage used car isn’t necessarily a bad idea. It’s nice to know that some vehicles can last a long time. My brother needs to get a car for work. He’s hoping to find something reliable and fuel-efficient. He’s probably better off going to a reputable used car dealership to find what will work for him.
Thank you for sharing this. Usually, it worries me about getting a car which is high on mileage maybe it just depends on the that you’re planning to buy.
I do like your suggestion that used cars will most likely have a few tears here and there, so a person should grab the car if they see that it is in prime condition. That is something that I will keep note of as the look on the outside translates on the inside when it comes to a vehicle, at least, for me. Thanks! I am looking into buying a used bus, and now I know what to look for.
Thanks for mentioning that just because a car has over 200,000 miles you shouldn’t consider not buying it. I think this is especially important if you are looking for a car to get you through college, as you may not have the funds to get a newer car. I’ve also heard that you can check the background of the car with various apps; this can help you get a used car with more mileage that is still in great condition.
I have recently been thinking about getting a used car and wanted to look up a few tips about it. I really appreciated the tip about making sure to research the make an model of the type of vehicle you would like. I think this can make a big difference to make sure you get the best bang for your buck.
My sister wants to buy her first car so she can drive herself to school, and I suggested she look at used cars. Your article had some great tips for buying a car like this, and I liked how you said to research the the manufacturing of a potential car so my sister can learn about the mileage, and if the manufacturer of the car is known for still working even with a high mileage. Thanks; I’ll share this with my sister to help her buy her first car.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips! This will be very useful for my future purchase of my first car soon
I like how you mentioned that it’s important you buy a used car from a dealer who is reliable, so you don’t get ripped off. I have been wanting a new car, and don’t want to pay all the money for a brand new car. I will definitely keep your great tips in mind during the process of buying a used car.