5 Steps to Buying a Used Car Nissan24auto.com 1016 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301

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1 FREE EBOOK 5 Steps to Buying a Used Car 1

2 5 Steps to Buying a Used Car After a great deal of deliberation, you ve finally decided that it s time to trade in your current vehicle for something nicer. Nevertheless, you re a little skeptical of those new car price tags. With the depreciation that your car will incur, is it worth it? For some, the answer is no. And if that s the case, then you re going to have to buy used. If you ve never bought a pre-owned car before, then you should know that the process is a bit different than buying a new car. To help you get acquainted, we ve put together this step-by-step guide. STEP 1: THE PRICE IS RIGHT Before you can make any big purchase, you need to establish a budget. And when it comes to finding the right car, this is especially important. Determine How Much You Can Afford It s not always fun to do, but you re going to have to sit down and make a list of current finances. With all your present bills, what s the most expensive payment you can comfortably afford? What price should you be shooting for? Give yourself a reasonable range so you don t end up stretching yourself thin. Research Which Types of Cars Will Be in Your Range Depending on that budget, a specific type of car may be right for you. For instance, if you have a tight budget and do a lot of highway driving, a smaller, more efficient car might be right for you. Likewise, if you have some cash to burn, you could easily get away with driving a bigger gas-guzzler. Find Your Current Car s Value Even if your present car doesn t seem very valuable to you, you can probably still get a decent chunk of change for it. Kelley Blue Book has an excellent online trade-in calculator where you can determine your car s value. It might not be much, but every little bit counts. Who knows? That trade-in might even cover your down payment! 2

3 STEP 2: FIND YOUR CAR This might seem like the easiest step of all, but it can be a bit challenging. When you re buying used, you re going to have exponentially more options to choose from. Only research will show you which is right for you. Determine Where You re Buying From You can always shop at a dealership for a used car. There, you ll be able to benefit from a dealership inspection, and you may even be able to find a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle. CPO purchases come with an extra stamp of approval, as well as a limited warranty that means extra peace of mind! Of course, you won t be able to haggle at a dealership the way you would when purchasing from an independent seller. When dealing with an individual, it s easier to state your case for a cheaper price. With just a little negotiating, you may be able to save a lot of money. Are There Any Special Features? One of the great things about buying used is that you can get a far more expensive car for less. For example, while choosing a higher trim level might tack on thousands of dollars to the price of a new car, you might be able to snag these upgrades for a steal when buying pre-owned. If you re buying from a dealership, ask them which trim levels they have in stock. No matter where you re buying from, you ll want to inquire about what kind of special features or add-ons the car might include. Does it have a bigger engine? Maybe the previous owner modified the car with some cool accessories or a new stereo system? You never know what you ll find in a used car. Get the History Once you ve found something at the right trim level with all your favorite features and gadgets, you ll have to get a vehicle history report. If you re buying from a dealership, they ll likely hook you up with a report. Otherwise, you ll have to turn to a website like CARFAX. This is one of those steps that you absolutely can t skip. History is everything. If the car has been in an accident before or didn t receive routine maintenance, there s a good chance it s going to fail on you a lot sooner than expected. Don t leave any room for unpleasant surprises. 3

4 STEP 3: GET BEHIND THE WHEEL Undoubtedly, one of the most important parts of any car buying process is actually taking the car for a spin. After all, even a car that sounds great on paper can still drive poorly. Make sure the car feels as good as it looks before you commit. Be Aware During your test drive, there are many things that you should be looking for. Here are some of the most pertinent factors. Cosmetics: Make sure the car looks good. Are there tears in the upholstery? Dents, scratches, or rust on the exterior? If something has been cheaply repaired, it s going to show. Performance: Pump the brakes. Make some sharp turns. Drive highways and cities, flat and bumpy roads. Basically, put the car to the test. If everything sounds and feels smooth, you shouldn t have too many problems in the near future. Space: Room is important in a vehicle. Check out the front-seat and backseat headroom to make sure there s enough room for everybody. Check the distance from all the controls to your seat. Take a look inside the trunk. Ask Your Sales Representative If you scheduled a test drive, the sales representative owes you a bit of time. Make sure you use it wisely. After you re all finished driving, and there are no more distractions, be sure to ask the representative as many questions as you can think of. Specifically, you may want to ask about dashboard lights, or how some of the car s unique features and gadgets operate. Consider a Pre-Purchase Inspection Even after glancing at the vehicle history report and taking the car for a drive, there still may be a few flaws hidden under the hood. This is true even if the car has been previously inspected by the dealership. It s always good to get a third-party opinion. Hire a mechanic to look at the car for you. If they give their stamp of approval, then the car should be ready for sale. 4

5 STEP 4: A LITTLE NEGOTIATING From private seller to a dealership, this step will differ drastically. But no matter the case, there s no harm in trying to get a better price. Negotiating with Your Private Seller Private sellers are much easier to haggle with. Since they don t have the influence of industry standards, they re going to be a lot more willing to part with the vehicle at a better price. Before meeting them for the sale, do a bit of extra research. What s the Kelley Blue Book value of the car? Do you have evidence of any sellers in the area offering the car for a cheaper price? Or maybe there are some scratches on the exterior that you can use to knock the price down? Be both cordial and firm. If you state your case well, the seller will likely be lenient. Negotiating with the Dealership You re going to have less wiggle room with your dealer. However, shopping there will offer you the benefit of dealership-exclusive specials and incentive programs. Check the dealership s website before visiting to see what great deals you might qualify for. STEP 5: THE PAPERWORK Here are some things you ll need to bring: Any dealership-specific forms: Ask your sales representative beforehand what papers you ll need to fill out. Have them faxed to you prior to purchase to expedite the process. Identification: This will include your driver s license, social security number, and in some cases, proof of residency. Insurance: You ll want both the card with your previous vehicle information and a new card to be sent to the dealership by your insurer. Present car s title Finance application: If you applied for a loan at the dealership, the finance team will make sure you have the right paperwork on the day of. 5

6 TIME TO DRIVE The process may have seemed long at the time, but it really wasn t difficult, was it? As long as you ve followed these five simple steps, you could be driving home in a new used car in no time at all. If you re ready to start looking for a new vehicle, contact your local dealership today. They can give you a tour of the inventory, as well as a bit of friendly advice. Start looking for your next car today! NISSAN $ 250 OFF ANY PRE-OWNED VEHICLE (With This Coupon) Must present printed coupon at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Prior sales excluded. Valid only at Nissan 24. Offer expires December 31,