Find Your Perfect Match

Buying a used car can be an exciting new experience. Who doesn’t love hitting the road in a new vehicle purchase that you love? Despite the fun and excitement that comes along with getting a car, there are some tools of the trade that may benefit you next time you head off with your checkbook. Whether you’re heading to the dealership or buying from a private seller, arming yourself with knowledge and resources will help you make the most informed decision. Here are five things we recommend doing before buying that new used car…

1 Decide what you want and research it. Buying a used car can be a smart financial move, but making an impulse buy could mean you end up with a lemon. It’s a good idea to plan out on paper what you are exactly looking for in the car. For instance, how many seats does it have? Mid-size, SUV or two door? Which features are a must? That way, you can keep your options narrowed down and your decision less complicated.

2 Set your budget. Nobody but you should be in control of your budget and is flexibility. Don’t compromise too easily on price just to get the car you want. Decide on a price range before you enter into sale negotiations that way you can better your chances of ending up with a price you’re comfortable with. Also, don’t reveal your budget range until after the dealer or seller makes the first offer—always maintain the upper hand in the negotiations.

3 Run a Carfax report. Carfax reports give you the appropriate information you need for the car of your choice, i.e. accident history and other questionable events in the car’s life.  Some dealers may run the reports for you, others such as private sellers, may not. Run the reports yourself if the dealer or seller are otherwise unable to.

4 Do a test drive. The most imperative part of the entire used car buying process is this one—the test drive. It is essential to see for yourself how the car actually drives, and it is important to test the driving capabilities in a variety of settings. Drive on the highway, downhill, slicks roads, etc. If something does not seem right, trust your gut and go for something different!

5 Don’t be afraid to walk away. Never walk into the sale with your heart set on purchasing the car in that moment—never be too eager to buy or you can wind up in a position to purchase something you’re not truly comfortable with. Never settle—it’s never worth problems down the road, so don’t be afraid to walk away and looking for something else. Don’t stop until you find the perfect car for you! And you can find that perfect car for you at 1800 Auto Land, the best used car dealers in New Jersey.