Buying a new car is going to cost you a pretty penny. The average cost of a new car currently sits at over $40,000.
It’s why you should consider buying a used car instead. You can get one for just a fraction of the cost of a new car, and in a lot of cases, it won’t be that much older than a new one.
Before you jump into buying a used vehicle, though, you need to know what to check when buying a used car. The last thing you want to do is come home with a used car that isn’t going to last you very long.
Here are some of the top things to look for when buying a used car.
How Many Miles Are On the Car?
One of the first questions to ask when buying a used car is about how many miles are on it. You can tell a lot about a car based solely on the number of miles that have been put onto its odometer.
The more miles that a car has on it, the more wear and tear it has endured. You might want to shy away from investing in a used car that has more than 100,000 miles on it unless you want to plan on having to do a lot of repairs and maintenance to it.
It’s worth noting that you can get 200,000 miles out of most cars these days. But even still, you should be careful about buying a car with too many miles on it.
How Many People Have Previously Owned the Car?
In addition to checking out how many miles are on a car, you should also take the time to see how many people have owned it in the past. It might help to shed some light on how well a car has (or hasn’t!) been maintained.
The fewer previous owners that a used car has, the better it has likely been maintained over time. You may want to shy away from buying a used car if it has had several owners in the past.
Has the Car Been Involved in Any Accidents?
When you’re considering what to look for when buying a used car, you should, of course, check to see whether or not a car has been in an accident or, worse, multiple accidents. You don’t want to buy a car that has been in a handful of crashes over the years.
It’s not the worst idea in the world to buy a used car that was involved in a minor fender-bender in the past. It might be a good way to get a great deal on a used car that is still in great shape.
But you should be wary about buying a used car that has sustained damage during a number of accidents. It might not be safe enough for you and your family.
Ask Yourself These Questions When Buying a Used Car
Buying a used car can be a little bit of a stressful process. But it’ll all be worth it in the end if you’re able to secure a great car for a great price.
Keep all the tips for buying a used car that we’ve talked about here in mind as you try to do it. It’ll make the process go so much smoother than it would otherwise.
Read through the other articles on our blog for more tips on buying a car.
