The Do’s And Don’ts of Buying Used Cars from Dealers

Here at The Driving Force we aim to offer our students with a comprehensive service, which means we are just as focused on what they should be doing once their driving lessons are concluded as we are on the instruction they receive during them.

Buying your first car is a pretty momentous occasion and many choose to purchase used vehicles from dealers so they can get out on the road as quickly as possible following their tests. However, there are a few things you need to be wary of, so here are a couple of do’s and don’ts for buying used from a dealer.

Do Understand The Car You Need

New drivers should avoid purchasing anything that has too much power, as they have yet to put the hours in on the road to handle it. Ideally, your first car should be practical above all else, so consider what you will actually need it for and take issues like fuel consumption into account.

Don’t Avoid Research

Failing to do your research will prevent you from gaining a foothold in negotiations and may lead to you buying an unsuitable car. If you are going to look at any vehicle, you at least need to know the basics so you don’t end up getting ripped off.

Do Look At Multiple Cars

Even if you know the exact make and model of car you want, it still pays to examine what people are selling it for before you head to the dealership. If the dealer is selling the car for more than the average market price, make it a point to ask questions and establish what you will be getting for the extra money.

Don’t Forget The Total Cost

Buying the car is only the first step, as you also need to consider issues like tax, insurance and the cost of fuel. Don’t forget to budget for all of these, as it is no fun to spend everything you have on a car only to find you can’t even use it because you have run out of money.

Do Work On Your Credit Score

The quality of any finance packages you may be considered for will be based on your credit score. There are plenty of sites online where you can check this and the best way to raise your credit score is to ensure any payments on loans, phone contracts or bills are made on time.

Don’t Buy Straight Away

Dealers can be very convincing, so avoid the temptation to buy straight away. You need to take the car for a test drive and have somebody who has knowledge about vehicles give the car a once over before you commit to anything.

Do Ask For Perks

If the dealer won’t budge on the price, ask about any perks that you can get with the vehicle. You may be able to get free oil changes or regular car washes as part of the package if you are persistent enough, however, if you show your hand too early you may talk yourself out of these added bonuses.