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Having just purchased a used vehicle this past November, I thought it was a great time to share some car buying tips I have learned over the years.
- Set your budget and stick to it. I have always heard that if you’re taking out a loan to pay for your car, your car payment shouldn’t be more than 20 percent of your take-home pay. Don’t forget to include gas, oil changes, other maintenance and insurance costs into your budget – those things really add up over time.
- Picking the right car for you. Do you just need a car to get from point A to point B with great gas mileage? Or do you need a vehicle that is going to be able to tow something like a camper? Maybe you need a vehicle with lots of space because you have a large family and attend lots of sporting events. If you aren’t sure what features you need, the Cars.com 2018 Best of Awards is a great place to start. When I was car shopping in November I just needed a car to get to and from work, that got great mileage. We already have the Jeep for tailgating/towing, and Tony has a car for everyday driving.
My used 2015 Fiat 500 that I purchased in November -
Don’t assume the car has a feature which you consider standard. Two car shopping experiences ago I was shocked how many cars did not have power locks, and power windows. It was 2011 and I had wrongly assumed those were standard features on all cars! At least they were features that were pretty obvious to notice during a test drive. However, the car I ended up buying didn’t have cruise control which I thought it had. I didn’t use cruise control during my test drive, so it was easy to overlook. Make a list of everything you “need” the car to have. I’ve seen cars that only have one cup holder in the front or other quirky things that were a turn off for me, but obviously weren’t a big deal to other people.
I made sure this car had cruise control! - Check reliability and ownership costs for each car you are considering. Before we buy cars we always research the Miles Per Gallon, and what normal parts would cost – like breaks, rotors, and tires. I also like to check and see what are common parts that wear out, and about when to expect them to go. On my last car I knew the engines usually went around 120,000 miles and I was thankful when mine lasted until 130,000 miles.
- Check the vehicle history report. Most places offer a free carfax report, but if you are serious about a used car, and they don’t offer one, it is worth it to get one. Vehicle history reports can reveal vital information about the car, including any accidents, if it has a salvage title, or if the odometer has been rolled back.
- Go on a test drive. I personally couldn’t purchase a car without taking it for a test drive. I am very tall, and often my knees hit the dash board, so making sure I am comfortable getting in and out, as well as while driving is always my number 1 priority. When I test drove my Fiat, it was actually raining, which was awesome, because I got to really test how the wipers, breaks and tires were going to work. They had me go through an empty technology park that was curvy, so I could get up to speed and feel how the car handled, without any other drivers around. Don’t be afraid to bring the whole family with you, if it is feasible. Better to know ahead of time that your teenage son can’t fit behind you.
My mom was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to fit in the passenger seat of my new car, because she has longer legs than me. She lives out of town so she couldn’t come for the test drive, but this picture proved she would have plenty of room. However, there is no way she would fit in the back seat. - Close the deal. Be prepared for them to offer you extra services at closing. They often offer road hazzard insurance on tires, fabric protection, extended warranties and many other types of extras. Don’t feel pressured into signing up for extras that you can’t afford, but do note, that some of the extras may pay for themselves over time. Do your research and only agree to what you need. Take your time to go over the paperwork -make sure everything is signed, or initialed where it needs to be. Also, make sure all the numbers are correct. I had to go back have some paperwork notorized about a week after my purchase because they had made a mistake on the odometer reading. It delayed me getting my permanent registration for a few extra weeks.
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