Negotiating Tips When Buying a Used Car from a Dealer
We all take for granted how often we are in a car every day. For most of us, spending time behind the wheel is something we do for multiple hours a week. In some ways, our cars become something of our second home.
So when it comes to buying a new car, there’s a lot of factors that might be important to us. Unfortunately, the cost is a big one of these. That’s why so many in the market for a car looked to used car lots, where you can find a great deal on a used vehicle.
Buying a used car from a dealer is a practice that worries a lot of would-be car buyers. Negotiating and finding the right vehicle makes many nervous, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know about purchasing a used car.
Shopping for a Used Car
Buying a used car is slightly more complicated than buying a new one. With a new vehicle, you can feel confident in driving off the lot that you’re getting what you paid for– if you can stomach the price.
The lower price point of a used car means there might be a bit more troubleshooting and planning needed.
Know Your Budget Ahead of Time
The best thing you can do when stepping onto a used car lot is to already have a solid budget in mind. No matter if it’s auto occasion or another seller, you need to be focused on the facts.
What can you afford, and what do you want to spend? Not having a hard number to rely on can cause your spending to get out of control in the moment.
You can always go lower than your given number if the opportunity presents itself, but negotiations can move fast: it’s best to know what number you absolutely don’t want to go over.
Get All the Information You Need
No matter what you do, before negotiating a price with a used car seller you should always get all the information you need about the vehicle. That means getting a vehicle history report, title status, and a record of ownership.
Seeing all of this information upfront can help you avoid bad surprises down the road. Go ahead and check the odometer yourself and make sure the mileage matches up to the seller’s paperwork. If it doesn’t, your seller has a lot of explaining to do.
You can use the information you find in this paperwork as evidence in your negotiations. Has the automobile been in an accident in the past? You can use your worries about this accident to help drive the price down.
Focus on the Total Cost
Used car salesmen are experienced and have tricks to move you towards the price they want. One big way is to keep you focused on monthly payments instead of the total price.
Don’t get distracted! Just because a low monthly price may sound good doesn’t mean you should stomach a higher total price than you’d prefer.
Buying a Used Car From a Dealer
There’s a lot to keep on top of when buying a used car from a dealer. These people will be skilled negotiators. But as long as you insist on getting all the information you need, you should be able to stand up to their tactics.
Need more car advice? Check out the rest of our blog for more.