How to Buy a Used Car: Beginner’s Guide
I’m thinking about buying a used car and I had no idea where to start. Total beginner here. No clue what to look for, where to look, or what criteria to have. How many miles are too many? How old is too old?
All I knew was that a used car can save you thousands over buying a new car. Most people I asked had varying opinions or weren’t quite sure, because they just did the best that they could when they purchased their own used car. So I did some digging and thinking to come up with a protocol for how to buy a used car, a beginner’s guide.
STEP 1: Figure out how much you can afford.
Take a look at your budget and determine how much you could realistically put towards a car. Don’t look up and fall in love with any specific models or features. What car you can get depends on what you can afford. You need or want a car, but you also need to stay within your means.
If you need to finance the car then how much money can you put towards car expenses per month. If you can purchase a car outright, great! No car payment, but you will have other monthly expenses so you still need to determine how much you would be able to put towards car expenses per month.
STEP 2: Write out what you need the car to do.
Have a checklist of what you need the car to actually do and features that are non-negotiable for you. In other words, features that the car must have to be a contender. For example:
- Run errands for household items and the business
- Good gas mileage
- Four doors
- Very reliable
- Easy to park
- Has a large trunk
- Anti-lock brakes
- Electronic stability control – automatically tries to control for a skid
Basically this list is a mix of what you will use the car to do and the features that you need the car to have.
STEP 3: Research makes and models.
Now you’re ready to start considering car makes and models (think brand and type) and some other crucial factors. First pick a brand based on reputation and what you’re looking for e.g. safety, reliability, sporty factor etc. For me safety, reliability and good resale value were key characteristics. Hands down I discovered Toyota and Honda are the best “makes” that fit those criteria.
Then pick a model based on the features you want, refer to the list you made in step two. You can start with the recommendations you’ve gotten from friends and do an internet search to look up how the make and model scores for safety, reliability, etc. The site safercar.gov will allow you to check safety ratings for specific makes and models. Also search to make sure there were no recalls for that model.
STEP 4: Decide acceptable mileage and age of the car.
This step had me completely baffled at first. Yes, complete newbie here. However, I learned the best way to determine the acceptable mileage is to consider the maintenance schedule. Cars should have regular maintenance in order to keep them in top shape. The car, should have had regular maintenance checks of the different parts, fluids, oils etc (the website Be Car Care Aware has a great maintenance schedule if you want to get into more detail).
However, there are general major milestones that involve the amount of mileage and maintenance. At around three years old or 30,000 – 40,000 miles, a car is due for a major maintenance check. This visit can cost around $300 – $400. Getting a car around this milestone also means that it has already gone through a lot of its immediate depreciation. So if you go for a used car that is about three years old or has about 30,000 – 40,000 miles then you should be able to save on the first major maintenance visit or if the car hasn’t had this visit use that knowledge to lower the price.
The second major maintenance visit comes at 60,000 – 70,000 miles. This visit is more expensive as parts usually need to be replaced. The next is at 100,000 miles. At this visit parts may need to be replaced as well. Although, improved technology is giving cars with 100,000 miles plus longer life.
STEP 5: Look for your car.
Now it’s time to search for your car. You know how much you can afford, you’ve decided on your mileage cut-off, so time to find the car. Do comparison shopping on different sites and at local car dealerships. Always check on the reputation of the site and the dealership. Here are some great sites:
- usedcars.com,
- edmunds.com,
- carmax.com,
- truecar.com
- cars.com
- kbb.com
You’ll be able to see what is available in your area, who comes closest or has exactly what you’re looking for, and compare the prices.
STEP 6: Determine actual expenses.
Once you have an idea of how the car you want is actually priced. Now you can get a more accurate idea of actual expenses, how much the car will cost you a month and if that truly fits into the budget you determined in step one. Some expenses to consider:
- car: loan (monthly payment) or buy outright
- taxes
- license fee
- other fees
- insurance
The taxes, license fee, and additional fees will add about 10% to the cost of the car. Be prepared. Many of the used car sites have fee calculators directly on the sites and notes about potential fees, be sure to include them.
If you’re getting a loan, know your credit score. They will check your credit score so know what it is beforehand. If you have a great score then you can get better interest rates and have stronger footing to request terms and features you want during negotiations. This will save money.
STEP 7: Pick insurance before you buy.
You can’t drive the car off the lot without driver’s insurance. Never thought about it before, but yeah that would be illegal. Shop around for insurance rates before purchasing a car. You should have compared insurance rates in step six. Pick the best provider.
You may able to add the car to your home insurance policy. Call the company that holds your home insurance and get the car added to your policy with a binder then call again to make it official. You may be able to negotiate a better price at the car dealership when you show proof of insurance coverage.
STEP 8: Buy your used car.
You know how much it will cost, you determined you can afford it, you have insurance. You’ve done the ground work now it’s time to purchase. You have a list of potential cars from step five, go check them out. Go during the day time so you can see everything clearly. Test drive the car. Check the A/C, heater, wipers. Check the history using a VIN on a site like CarFax.
For a private seller, then get it checked by a mechanic and check the history on a site like CarFax. Once you get a great bill of health from the mechanic and nothing bad shows up on the car’s history report, ask to see the title. Make sure this is the owner of the car. When you buy, make sure you have all keys, manuals, records, receipts etc. You’ll also have to do more of the paperwork such as registration, title transfer etc yourself with a private seller.
STEP 9: Drive it home.
What did you go through when purchasing a used car? What tips do you have to add?
Leave a comment below.
When you are buying a used car before that, check the brakes of the car.Find a road without any traffic and accelerate to about 50 mph. Hit the brakes hard. If the car pulls to the right or left, it may mean you have a loose brake caliper or there’s not enough hydraulic fluid on the side it’s pulling too. When I buy my first used car, then I purchase an extended warranty from
Warrantech
.
I agree that your budget should come before all other things. However, I think a close second is doing your research. A friend of mine didn’t do research on his first car and ended up buying a new car two years later when his car broke down. Of course, now his car is better than mine despite being a couple of years older. Apparently, I didn’t do my research as well as I could have.
Researching models is one of the things that I need to work on. I think it is more difficult as a woman who doesn’t even notice the different car models whizzing by as much as the colors. Do you have any further tips for becoming educated about cars in order to avoid buying the wrong one? Thank you!
Your first point about figure out how much you can spend on your car is really good and you should set a budget for yourself. Do not forget to check the damage of the car. Is the bodywork straight? Look in the door frames for the sign of the damage. When I was buying my first car then purchase an extended warranty from AMT Service Corp at very reasonable price.
Before buying a used car definitely i will keep in mind all these tips. We all know that buying car is a big investment so it is important before buying to prepare our-self and set a budget because if there is no set budget definitely the spending will be on a higher side. It is important to know how much you are willing to spend before you get into the buying process with anyone.
My husband and I are looking to get a new car. Thanks for the information about how you should write out what you need the car to do, such as have good gas mileage. Something else to do is to get a car with a warranty on it, so that you can be sure it will last after driving it off the lot.
I agree with you in that it is a good idea to make a list of features you want your perfect car to have before you start your search. We are planning on getting a second car so that we can have transportation while one of us is using the car for work or school. It makes sense that taking the time to do your research and compare several dealerships can help[ you find the best car for your needs.
We want to buy a used car, so thanks for these tips. I love your example of a list of things the car must have. Pretty much everything on there is something we want, except the trunk. That is something we could live without.
Buying a used car can save you thousands over buying a new car. Before buying a used car you must sure about the model what you are looking for. The things must be in mind that you are using it for household or business purpose.Weather it is reliable or not also check the anti-lock brake system.The most important and unavoidable thing the mileage and age of the car that you want to be buy. If the car is three years old or more than that and running for 30,000 miles to 40,000 miles needs major maintenance. You should verify some legal document like loan, taxes, insurance, license and other fees files. You must go for a test drive before buying the used car.
My son is looking at getting his first car, and I think some of the tips you provided could be helpful for him. I liked how you pointed out that he should get insurance before he purchases a car. I’ll make sure he compares rates and has insurance before he visits the dealership.
I will be needing to get a new car sometime soon. It will probably be best for me to get a used car. So, I found what you said about picking insurance before I buy a car. I would want to know if I could afford to cover the car I get on my used car.
When buying a car, it is important that you do a research where to buy the car. A car dealer with a good reputation in selling can do the work. Check also your budget for the car and test the car before buying it to make sure that every thing is doing great.
That’s a great idea to make a list of the things you need the car to have, such as anti-lock brakes and four doors. I think if we were to make that list, we would put good AC and adequate leg room to put our car seats in the back. My kids always complain that they are squished in our current car, so we want something a little more roomy in the next one we get. Thanks for giving us the idea to make a list of these things!
What really got my attention was how you talked about the importance of determining how much you can afford so you can get the car that will best suit your budget. My father is interested to buy a GMC used car. He has not thought of finding out how much he can spend in purchasing a car, so it will make sense for him to take a look at his budget so he can easily narrow down his choices. I will make sure to share your blog with him. Thanks!
When it comes to a used car, doing the test drive is everything – this guide covers about 20 or so tips that put a car through its paces, avoiding a lemon – https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/buying-used-car.html
I do like that you suggested determining your budget in buying a used car so you won’t fall in love with models or features of cars that you can’t afford. This is something that I will make sure to remember because I’m planning to buy a used car. It’s important for me to save time from finding the right used car that will fit my budget, so I’ll remember all your tips.
My sister is trying to get a car, and I suggested she look for a used one. YOur article had some great tips for buying a used car, and I liked how you said to do some research on different sites and dealerships so you can check their reputation. From there, my sister can compare the different options, and I’ll share this with her to her get the best car for her needs.
Hey guys Ive been a used car buyer for over 10 years now and I know there maybe some new car buyers in this group and I would like to add some value so I took the liberty of putting together 6 tips you can use to help your avoid buying a lemon and make the right choices with confidence.
make a big enough budget issues with used cars are common but if your buying a used car u should be prepared to perform maintenance or unexpected issues.
After you narrow down your search you should get a background check on the car this can be pricey because Carfax charges $34.99 for 1 history report. Luckily being the penny pincher i am, I was able to find a site that looks up the history report for $9.99 click for details (bit.ly/353FhkK)
If you have no car knowledge bring a trusted mechanic with you to make sure it’s a good deal.
Make sure the car has a title that is free and clear with no liens no salvage unless your using it for parts.
Most dealerships offer extended warranties even if the car is bought second hand. So if you would like to save on out of pocket fees I recommend you call your dealer for your specific make and model.
Lastly get road side assistance I cannot tell you how many times I was stranded until I got roadside. ?
I hope this help drive safely ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️