Looking for a Used Car

These Six Tips Can Help

Does the idea of shopping for a used car make you cringe? You're not alone; even among the most experienced auto buffs, used car shopping stirs mixed emotions, from anxiety to gusto. Although many shoppers fear ending up with a "lemon," they still enjoy the anticipation of landing the perfect car, truck, or van at a fair price.

The Car Care Council suggests the following tips for consumers who are eyeing the used car market.

1. Mind over matter. Finding the right vehicle can be an emotional decision. We tend to fall in love with our cars, a relationship which can become "love-hate" when the used car becomes somewhat of a clunker. For this reason it’s important not to let your heart override your common sense. Shop with another person to ensure that a second opinion is close at hand.
2. Clean out your comb. Used cars are just that: used. The new car warranty is either gone or waning, so make sure all guarantees are in writing. Go over this paperwork with the proverbial fine tooth comb.
3. High mileage/high value. Don’t be frightened off by high mileage. Shoppers who traditionally have ruled out older cars with high mileage now are discovering these can be excellent buys. The median age of a vehicle now exceeds eight years, an increase of 50 percent during the past decade. Vehicles are more durable, and we’re putting more miles on them. "People are keeping their vehicles longer," confirms R.B. Grisham, Executive Vice President of National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. "Add to this the higher price of new cars and you can see why the used car market is overtaking the new." A high mileage vehicle (100,000+ miles) may be relatively trouble free for years, says the Council. If they’ve had proper care, major components, including the engine and transmission may be good for many more miles.
4. Don’t skip "history class." A big factor, of course, is the vehicle’s service history. Beware of the private seller who boasts, "I never had to do a thing to it." It could be an accident or a breakdown waiting to happen. Sooner or later lack of maintenance will catch up - sometimes with the new owner.
5. Play the Price Is Right. At your bank, library or auto parts store, you can borrow or buy an appraisal guide. These books, published by National Auto Dealers Association, Kelly’s Blue Book, Edmonds and others, help determine if the seller’s asking price is in the right range. This information also is available on the Internet.
6. A checkup before a check. Used car shoppers should invest in a thorough inspection of any used vehicle. Due to the complex systems in today’s vehicles, analysis of these sophisticated systems demands more than a trained eye. It also requires specialized equipment for total evaluation.

"It’s not that the buyer should ‘borrow trouble’ or look for an Achilles Heel to use against the asking price," explained Donna Wagner, Vice President of the Car Care Council. "But he/she should do everything possible to avoid buying a bomb. A valuable ally in this procedure is a well trained and equipped technician."

It's like having cash in hand with a no-obligation Blank Check ^® loan from PeopleFirst.com, so you can act fast when you find the used vehicle you want.

Whether you are buying a car from a used car dealership or an individual, PeopleFirst offers low-rate vehicle loans for your purchase. Take a few minutes to apply online. You can expect to hear form PeopleFirst within 15 minutes during business hours. You could receive your no-obligation Blank Check ^® as early as tomorrow. Then, you can shop around since your rate is locked in for 45 days.

Buying a Used Vehicle from a Dealer?

Use your low-rate Blank Check ^® to negotiate a good deal on almost any used vehicle, including light trucks and SUVs. Simply make the Blank Check ^® payable to the dealer.

Buying a Used Vehicle from an Individual?

You can also use your Blank Check ^® to buy a used vehicle from an individual. PeopleFirst.com has partnered with Mail Boxes Etc. to provide a convenient location to complete the transaction at no cost to you or the seller. Once you find the used vehicle you want to buy, meet the seller at a mutually convenient Mail Boxes Etc. location. Find out how easy and convenient buying a used car can be!

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Brought to you as a public service by Car Care Council.

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