A Guide to Buying Used Cars in New Jersey

Searching for a great used car can take a lot of work. Whereas a new car has never been driven before, a used car has had one or more previous owners. Each used car has its own unique history that needs to be investigated, in addition to the usual steps of buying a new car. To help you purchase a used car that's right for you, consider the following tips from Autoland Toyota. Visit our dealership located at Route 22 in Springfield to view our large inventory of used cars in New Jersey.

Know How Much You Can Afford

Before you can set out to buy a car, you need to determine how much you can afford. A general rule of thumb is that the monthly payment should not exceed 20% of your take-home pay. Based on this guideline, establish a budget and stick to it. Establishing a strict budget will prevent you from being swayed to purchase a more expensive vehicle with nicer features you may not need. When setting your budget, keep in mind extra costs in addition to the monthly payment, including the down payment, taxes, and potential dealer fees.  Click here for some additional factors to keep in mind when creating your car budget.

Determine Your Needs

Along with establishing a budget, you need to determine your needs. You may have specific needs and preferences when it comes to the brand, style, size, and mileage. For instance, if you have a family of five, you might want to consider a larger vehicle, such as an SUV with a good crash safety rating. Once you identify a list of requirements, it’s a smart idea to write them down so that you don't overlook anything when shopping for a vehicle. Refer to Kelley Blue Book car value guides to see what types of vehicles fit best in your budget. This will also help you later on when it's time to negotiate with the dealer.

Find Used Cars in Your Area

Once you have some types of cars in mind, try to locate them for sale in your area. Scour the classified ads and search online to compare the various vehicles and prices available to you. You can do a large Internet search of all the dealerships in your area, or search directly on the dealer's website. At 1800Autoland.com you can browse a large inventory of used cars by price, make, model, and type.  

Review the Car's History Report

Before you go to see the car in person, investigate the vehicle's history. If what you find is negative, then do not bother to go see the vehicle. You can access a car's history report at Carfax.com or Autocheck.com using the vehicle's vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate. The report will tell you crucial information about the vehicle, including the accident history and if it has a salvage title.

Analyze and Test Drive the Vehicle

If the vehicle history report turns out positive, contact the dealership so you can see it in person. It’s best to visit the dealership in daylight so that you can easily detect any visible problems with the vehicle. Test drive the car to ensure it's in good condition. Test everything from the lights, wipers and audio, to the automatic windows, cruise control and suspension settings. Also observe the handling of the vehicle, such as how it steers, accelerates, decelerates, and turns, among other driving factors. Be sure to simulate your daily driving patterns. For instance, if you often drive on the highway, test drive the car on the highway.

Get the Vehicle Inspected

If the car seems like a perfect fit, get it inspected by a trusted professional. A professional inspection may reveal something you didn't notice during your test drive and can potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Make an Offer

After you are satisfied with the inspection, make an offer. Your offer should be based on your budget and the research you've compiled about pricing and car values. To negotiate the best deal, offer a competitive price. If you offer is rejected, you may want to make a counter offer, but be sure not to exceed your budget. Once you and the dealer have agreed on a price, the deal has been closed. Before hitting the road, the vehicle should be added to your insurance policy and the title and registration transferred to you.

With these tips you can find the perfect used car for you and your family. Visit us online at www.1800Autoland.com or call (877) 853-3723 for information about our used cars in New Jersey.

Select Vehicles Continue to Dominate Sales Figures by State

Ever wonder what the most popular vehicle in each state is? Well, wonder no more. Experian Automotive looked at the sales figures of vehicles during a six-month period and compiled all the statistics based on each state of the union. The findings were not surprising, as pickup trucks dominated the Midwest and more fuel-efficient mid-sized sedans ruled the commuter states of the Northeast.

Mid-sized Sedans Popular in Northeast

It should be no surprise that safe, reliable sedans made a pretty good showing on the list of popular cars, and it's indicative of the current culture that they would have their best sales in the Northeast. The most popular choice seems to be the Toyota Camry, which reigned supreme in Maryland, Rhode Island, along with several southern states along the Eastern Seaboard. It didn't completely dominate the competition, however, as the Honda Accord proved to be the most popular brand of new and used cars in New Jersey.

Part of the reason for this particularly strong showing of mid-sized sedans is fuel economy. States like Maryland and New Jersey have a significantly high rate of people with long commutes, so it would make sense that these people value excellent gas mileage. This is why the most popular cars in these states are regularly cars like the Camry, Accord, and the Honda Civic.  

It's not just the Northeast, either. California and Oregon also kept up with the trend, as well as Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.

Pickups Rule the Midwest

In states where long commutes were uncommon, the prevailing value of a vehicle seemed to be placed in its ability to haul and tow. The Ford F-150 was arguably the most popular vehicle across the states, coming in at the top spot in 22 states. States like North Dakota and Wyoming call on the Ford truck to do their heavy lifting. The F-150 has not only been the country's best-selling truck for the past 34 years; it's America's best-selling vehicle for the past 29 years. Recent advancements to the model have made it an even more practical vehicle for day-to-day driving, too.

Crossovers on the Rise

Peppered within the results among the trucks and mid-sized sedans are a few states that chose the increasingly popular crossover vehicle as their automobile of choice. The most common choice of these was the Honda CR-V, claiming the top spot in Connecticut, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts.  

The trendy class of vehicles has been steadily rising for a number of years and part of the reason is its practicality. More fuel efficient than a pickup and larger than a sedan, crossovers are just about the best of both worlds. The family market, which used to be dominated by minivans, has now been taken over by these family vehicles with their sleeker designs. Now, being practical doesn't need to look so dorky.

Three Tips For Parents Of Teen Drivers In New Jersey

New Jersey has a population of over 8 million people and is the most densely populated state in America, and if you want to get around in the Garden State you’re going to need to learn how to operate a vehicle. New Jersey has millions of drivers on its roads, and this year thousands more will join their ranks. As a parent of an older teen you know that they’re going to have their license soon, and you most likely aren’t looking forward to it. Allowing your teen to drive on their own involves giving them a lot of responsibility and trusting that they’ll be able to safely operate a vehicle. If you’re going to have a new licensed driver in your family soon, consider following these tips so that you can feel safe when they’re behind the wheel.

 Lead by example

 It’s very difficult to teach your teen that it’s dangerous to text and drive when they see you texting behind the wheel. If you want your teen to be a safe driver, you need to set a good example for them by driving the way you’d want them to drive. That means staying off of your phone, always using your turn signal, and concentrating on the road and nothing else. Actions speak a lot louder than words, and your good example shows them that safe driving is important.  

Make sure they know what to do in different situations

If your teen is going to be driving in New Jersey, they’re going to need to know how to safely and defensively drive in heavy traffic, rain, sleet, snow, and virtually any driving condition you can think of. If you live near New York City or Philadelphia, make sure that they can handle driving in urban areas (and that they remember that you can only turn right on red in the state). Take them out driving during a light shower or after it rains so that you can see how the handle their car on wet roads.

Go used instead of new

Many parents that can afford to provide their teens with a car will go used instead of new. There are plenty of affordable used cars in our New Jersey lots and a used car would be much better for your budget than a new one. The cost to insure a brand new car for a brand new driver is going to be very high, but insuring a used car to a new driver wouldn’t be as expensive.

Choosing a New or Used Car in New Jersey

A car buyer today has many great options to choose from. From cars and trucks to SUVs and minivans, there is a full range of choices available-- but should you buy new or used? Both approaches have their pros and cons, and here are some of them:

Pros of Buying New Cars

The main advantage to buying new is that you can get exactly what you want, when you want it in the perfect condition. While we have a very large inventory of pre-owned cars, it's not quite as easy to find the exact thing that you are looking for as it is with a new car. 

Another great thing about buying a new car is the warranty; most auto manufacturers provide a solid powertrain warranty that will protect your vehicle in case it needs a repair early in life, though many of our certified used cars will also have solid warranties.

Cons of Buying New Cars

The main issue with buying a brand new car, of course, is the price. While representing a great value in today's economy, a new car will depreciate much faster than a similar used car and though pristine condition may be worth the price for many of today's buyers, value is a factor to consider. For those with tighter budgets, a used car may also make more financial sense.

Pros of Used Cars

While the price benefits to buying used are obvious, there are other perks. Buying a pre-owned vehicle is great for the environment and keeps cars on the road longer. Our expert mechanics inspect all of our used vehicles so that you can be sure that they've been checked for quality and value (we only sell the best of the best used cars on our lot).

Cons of Used Cars

One con to buying a used car is that it will have somewhat less life left in it than a new one, depending on how many miles the vehicle already has on it. While the used car will be in good working condition (or we wouldn't be selling it to you), a new car will almost always last longer by simple virtue of the fact that it hasn't been driven yet. However, by buying and properly maintaining a relatively recent vehicle, customers can get many years of service out of any used car on the lot.

Whatever your needs or preferences, we have some of the best new and used cars in New Jersey at great prices. Let us wow you with our service!

Look to Toyota for the Best Family Cars in New Jersey

Buying a car for your growing family is a big step. You need a car that is reliable, has enough room for all of your family members, and is still fun to drive. With a growing family, your budget may be stretched thin to purchase a brand new car. We understand that money may be tight, but we have a ton of affordable options that can have you driving the car of your dreams.

No car is as reliable, spacious, safe, and fun as a Toyota. Built almost exclusively in the United States, Toyota knows what it takes to make lifelong customers. Toyota has numerous models and styles to meet your needs. You can go for the fun-to-drive and roomy Matrix, the spacious Sequoia, the luxurious Avalon, the seven-passenger Sienna, or the fuel-efficient Camry Hybrid, all of which can seat at least four and still have room to spare.

If you are considering purchasing one of our used cars in New Jersey, you should consider buying a certified, pre-owned Toyota since it comes with a 12 month, 12,000 mile, comprehensive warranty from the date you purchase the vehicle. In addition, you receive 12 months of 24-hour roadside assistance. Prior to being sold, we subject our certified, pre-owned Toyotas to a rigorous, 160-point inspection. We also investigate all of our certified, pre-owned Toyotas using CarFax to make sure that they meet our exacting standards before we even begin the certification process.

The biggest selling point for our cars comes when you take them out for a test drive. Used Toyotas drive great, with comfortable seats, multiple extra features, and the peace of mind you can only have when you are driving one of the safest, family vehicles on the road.

No matter what your criteria is in a family, used car in New Jersey, our Toyotas will beat your expectations. Toyota's drivability, quality, safety, and attention to detail will have you purchasing one of our used Toyotas and coming back as an Autoland customer for life.