If you plan to purchase a used car, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you land a good deal — from asking the right questions to looking up the VIN number and beyond.
So how do you ensure you’re getting a good deal on your next used car purchase?
Automotive YouTuber ChrisFix recommends the below process when buying a used vehicle:
- Contact the owner and ask important questions regarding the condition of the car and why they are selling it
- Look up the value of the car using NADA or Kelly Blue Book
- Look up the VIN number to find the vehicle’s history
- Inspect and test drive the vehicle
Below, we will cover this used car buying process in more detail so that you are able to ensure that you are getting a great deal on the next used car that you purchase.
Buying a Used Car: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once you have found a used car that you would like to consider purchasing, the first thing that you will want to do is contact the owner who is selling the vehicle. Once you have them on the phone, be sure to ask important questions such as the mileage on the car, any problems or necessary repairs that it might have, the options and features in the vehicle, why they are selling it, and so forth.
Once these questions are out of the way, be sure to set up a time where you can meet with the owner to inspect and test drive the vehicle.
The next thing you will want to do is determine the car’s value. After talking with the owner and taking a look at the car yourself if you’ve had the chance, you should be able to roughly estimate the condition that it is in, and this estimate can be used to determine the car’s value using sources such as Kelly Blue Book or NADA.
These sources will tell you the rough trade-in value of the vehicle you are considering, and, ideally, you will want to purchase it for as close to this trade-in value as possible.
Next, be sure to look up the vehicle’s history using the VIN search tool provided by Vehicle History.
This free-to-use tool will provide you with a comprehensive report of the vehicle’s accident history, repair history, and more, helping you make sure there are no red flags in the vehicle’s past.
Lastly, once you’ve determined a rough value for the vehicle and looked up its VIN to ensure there aren’t any glaring issues in its history, you’ll want to inspect and test drive the vehicle in person, making sure to check out every aspect of its engine, interior, and exterior to look for signs of damage.
During your test drive, be on the lookout for any signs of problems such as difficulty starting, strange noises, lackluster acceleration, or any other tell-tale signs that the vehicle may have mechanical issues.
With this process complete, the only thing left to do is negotiate the price with the vehicle’s owner before you are ready to write a check and call the car your own.
Buy with Confidence Thanks to Vehicle History’s VIN Search Tool
When it comes to helping you ensure that you aren’t purchasing a used vehicle that is going to be more trouble than it is worth, the VIN search tool provided by Vehicle History is invaluable. With this, you can access the vehicle’s complete history and check for any red flags that are warning you to steer clear.
