Choosing Auto Dealers Wisely

Buying a used car is a great way to get a quality vehicle without spending a lot of money. If you are concerned about buying a vehicle that has already been owned by someone else, there are key things you can look for in any used automobile for sale that can help you in your final purchasing decision. Here are things you should look out for when buying used cars.

Certified pre-owned

A certified pre-owned vehicle is a used car that has been fully inspected by the dealership and is still under warranty by the manufacturer. Many people choose to only buy certified pre-owned vehicles because they carry a certain guarantee to be in safe mechanical condition. Since 2000, the sale of certified pre-owned vehicles has risen nearly 50%. When shopping for certified pre-owned vehicles, make sure you check with the dealer to see just what kind of warranty exists on any vehicle you choose.

Mileage

The year of the vehicle doesn't matter as much as how many miles are on the engine. If the engine has been rebuilt or replaced on a used car you are looking at, you want to ask the dealership when the engine was replaced, whether it was done by the owner themselves or by a certified mechanic, and how many actual miles are on the vehicle overall. This will help you decide if you are buying a quality used car or not. Some vehicles can get well over 250,000 original miles on them and still be in great driving condition, so research any makes and models for durability prior to making a purchase based on mileage alone.

Owner care

A great thing about buying used cars is that you can often get previous owner history from the vehicle. You want to know how many owners a vehicle has gone through as well as what the vehicle was primarily used for. A car that was mainly used for travel may have rougher freeway miles on it than a car that was simply used to drive a few miles to work and back every day. You want a record of all oil changes, repairs, and any accidents a used car has been through as well, which can be provided to you by the dealership.

Buying a used car can mean a fabulous deal for you. Shopping for certified pre-owned automobiles and checking mileage and owner care are great ways to ensure the car you end up with is one that you can trust to drive for a few more years.

To learn more, contact a company like Auto Max.