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Pre-Owned Buyers L.A.B

Pre-owned Buying Tips  From The L.A.B. 

1. Do your homework: Know as much or more about the car you are planning to purchase as the seller. The internet is full of details about every car model including current trade-in and market value, safety ratings, consumer and professional reviews, and the added value of included options.

2. Choose a low mileage car: A low mileage car will often have some transferable original warranty remaining. After you settle on your make and model a search the internet and papers should yield several cars for you to choose from. Narrow your selection down to models with comparable options then choose the one with the lowest mileage. 

3. Go With The Options: You should be able to find a well- equipped car with all the options you need and some you just want priced several thousands of dollars less than a comparable new car. The change in looks from one year to the next is often minor so take advantage and get the premium options at bargain prices. Shop around the prices in the pre-owned market can vary widely depending on the deal the dealer made with the previous owner. If you decide to resell the options will help make the sell.

4. Buy the popular model: If you should have problems with your car should be much easier to find a local repair shop with the parts in stock and knowledgeable mechanics to make needed repairs quickly. 

5. Know the car's history: Find out where the car was previously titled and how often it has been titled. If a 2 year-old-car has had more than one owner or a five-year-old car more than two owners, beware, the car may have a problem. Ask for service records and be sure the records are complete.

6. Consider buying from a leasing or rental company: Most of the rental agencies protect their investment by keeping the cars mechanically well maintained. Just remember the car has also been driven by someone who had no attachment to the car and may have abused it. Check it out closely. 

7. Know what you're buying: Check the car for signs it has been in an accident or from an area where there have been floods or harsh winters. Repossessions could be a problem. If the owner could not make the payments, paying for maintenance was probably a problem also. Ask to see the car's title. In most states the title will identify salvaged cars. 

8. Get everything in writing: This tip is extremely important because once you sign the purchase contract you are at the mercy of the seller if anything goes wrong. Some dealers will allow a three day cooling off period but it is up to the dealer to do so, it is not a legal requirement. If you are told a cooling off period is available get it in writing as well as price, terms, repairs, and/or trade-ins. Have everything clearly written into the sales agreement.

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