Buying a Used Car
can be a great deal or not!
 Buying
a used car can be a great way to save money. Many
two year old vehicles sell for just 50% of their
original factory MSRP and may still be under the
original factory warranty. This means thousands of
dollars in savings to you. But, before you start shopping for a car, you'll need to do
some homework.
Spending time now may save you serious
money later. Think about your driving habits, your
needs, and your budget. You can learn more about car
models, options, and prices by doing a little research
online.
There is a wealth of information
about used cars on the Internet:
Kelley
Blue Book,
Edmunds, and
Autotrader are just a few locations to research
actual vehicle pricing and availability. TellerAutos.com
offers you several ways to compare car models, options, and costs, and
get information about
frequency-of-repair records, safety tests, and mileage.
Once you've narrowed your car choices, research the
frequency of repair and maintenance costs on the models
in auto-related consumer magazines. The U.S. Department
of Transportation's Auto Safety Hotline (1-800-424-9393)
gives information on recalls or use this link to
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Before You Buy A Used Car
Whether you buy a used car from a dealer, a co-worker,
or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you
can about the car:
-
Examine the car yourself
using an inspection checklist. You can find a
checklist in many of the magazine articles, books
and Internet sites that deal with buying a used car.
-
Test drive the car under
varied road conditions—on hills, highways, and in
stop-and-go traffic.
-
Ask for the car's
maintenance record. If the owner doesn't have
copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where
most of the work was done. They may share their
files with you.
-
Talk to the previous
owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar
with the car's history.
-
Have the car inspected
by a mechanic you hire.
Check out these other used car topics:
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