Pre-owned cars are having their moment as COVID-19 has caused lower supplies of new vehicles and made consumers more cautious about using public transportation and ride sharing.
There are countless choices when buying a pre-owned car and finding one that is right for you can be a challenge, especially in today’s marketplace. Here are some tips on purchasing a pre-owned vehicle from Clay Posey, sales consultant with Grainger Nissan of Anderson.
Find a vehicle that will work best for you
Start your search by deciding the features you want or need on a car. You should also consider how far you drive each day, the fuel economy and reliability you need.
Set a budget
If you’ll be making payments on your pre-owned vehicle, determine the amount of money you are able to spend monthly, or how much you can afford to spend to buy the vehicle outright.
Also consider your flexibility. For example, are there features you’re willing to eliminate to stay within your budget?
Do your research
The internet gives consumers the ability to research all brands of cars, trucks and SUVs. Again, consider the features you want and build a target list.
Find out what the vehicle is worth
Check the value of the vehicle with Carfax and Kelley Blue Book.
“Most dealer websites are going to have access to Carfax. That’s going to be extremely important,” Posey says. With Carfax, you can view a history report of the vehicle, including number of owners, service records, whether the vehicle has been in any accidents and its fair market value.
Always test drive
“Always, always, always test drive,” Posey said. “I can’t tell you how many people who’ve said, ‘I don’t need to drive it, I’ve had one before.’ Especially with used cars, they’re all different. It’s a unique personality for each one.”
Obtain a repair order from dealer
“Most dealerships do a service inspection on the cars they’re selling so you can see what work they recommended or what work they did to it when it came in,” Posey said.
Take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic
Have your mechanic inspect the vehicle to make sure there are no additional issues that need to be addressed.
Ask for an extended test drive
“Take the vehicle and drive it for a weekend,” Posey said. “Make sure it’s going to work for your lifestyle and fit into your and your family’s component.”
Posey also advises that there are benefits to buying a pre-owned vehicle from a dealership compared with a private owner.
Vehicle inspection
The service department at a dealership performs multi-point inspections on pre-owned vehicles before they are put on the sales lot, including brakes, tires and all other components of the car, truck or SUV.
Vehicle history
Many times, pre-owned vehicles at a dealership are trade-ins that have been serviced by that dealership so there will be a history of oil changes and other vehicle service.
Certified pre-owned
Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles have long-term warranties that are backed by the carmaker, not just the dealership. Dealerships that sell a specific brand of new car are the only ones who can sell a CPO car of the same brand. So, if you wanted a CPO Nissan Altima, for example, you’d need to buy it from a Nissan dealer such as Grainger Nissan of Anderson.
Market-based pricing
“An individual is going to price a vehicle at whatever they want to sell it for. A dealership has to be competitive in their market,” Posey explained. “If they’re looking at five other dealerships in their market, they’ve got to be competitive and within the price range of all the other dealerships.”
For more information on pre-owned and new vehicles, visit GraingerNissanofAnderson.com.
