Used Car Buying Tips

By Steven Gillman

Some of these used car buying tips won't be new to you. Often the trick is just to apply what you already know. On the other hand, when it comes to expensive areas of life like buying a car, one new thing learned can save you hundreds of dollars. Try some of the following.

1. Make a low offer. Okay, you knew this one. A trick you may not have used, though, is to make a low offer, and then leave your phone number with the seller. Time has a way of making sellers desperate, especially after you just helped convince them that they are asking too much.

2. Be careful with car price guides. Use the "blue book" etc, but try not to pay more than wholesale. I can't think of many times when people I know have paid more than "bluebook," so these "average" sales prices are doubtful.

3. Talk to people. This is one of the simplest and effective used car buying tips. Just let friends, family and others know you're looking for a car. Quite often people would be happy to avoid the whole process of advertising and showing their car if they could just get rid of it by giving a good deal to a friend.

4. Check out the engine. Have a mechanic look at the car, and tell you what it's likely to need in the next year or so. Then make a list, so the seller can see in writing why you are offering less than he wants.

5. Auctions. See if there is a public auction in your area. If not, maybe you can go with a dealer friend and give him a $100 to buy a car for you.

6. www.carfax.com. It's around $25 to run vehicle background checks for a month - long enough to find your next car. They'll show the chain of title, accident reports for the car, and even safety and reliability scores for that model.

7. "Ugly" cars. Watch for cars that sit on the lot for months. Dealers will often sell these "ugly ducklings" at a loss just to move them. Again, you may want to leave your phone number with a low offer.

8. Rental company cars. They are sold fairly cheap when they get the new ones in. Buy at bluebook wholesale or less, because they have had many different drivers, so they've more wear than normal.

9. Repos. Credit unions and some small banks do their own selling of repossessed cars. You usually bid on paper, maybe with a $50 deposit, and then get your $50 back if you're not the winning bidder. If they don't sell their own repossessions, ask where they are sold.

10. Consider gas mileage. High mileage may be better, but maybe a car that costs $500 less will use only $400 more gas in the two years you expect to own it. Do the math.

Use the tips here the next time you are shopping for a used car. Meanwhile, why not learn a few negotiating strategies. This helps in many areas of life, and is the most important of these used car buying tips.

Steve Gillman has been hunting down obscure knowledge and useful secrets for years. Learn more and get a free gift at: The Secret Information Site (http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com)

Used Car Deals

By Louis Rix

When it comes to used car deals there are many bargains to be had and one of the best places you can begin your search for your used car is online. Some of the cheapest used car deals can be found through private sellers advertising on one of the many sites that are available for searching. Another popular choice when it comes to getting a great deal is to search among the many car dealerships which sell second hand cars and find the best bargains.

If you are thinking of buying your used car from a dealership that specialize in used cars then you will have a warranty on the car, while if you choose to purchase the car from a private dealer there wont be one, you will have to weigh up the pros and cons of this and decide if you would rather have some peace of mind and pay a little extra or save some money.

While the cheapest used car deals can usually be got from the private dealer as more often than not they are desperate to sell and as such you can haggle over the price and knock them down more than the dealerships, it is also the more risky way of buying your car. However there are many honest and trustworthy people out there who want to sell their car for sincere reasons and with these people you can both get a good deal.

When it comes to finding a dealer in used cars then the internet is the best way to do this. Rather than traveling from dealer to dealer to see what each is offering you can do a search in a specific area online and more often than not they have any special deals of the week listed online. A great many dealers will offer incentives to buy from them and will boast of these online, many have offers such as free tax and testing or free insurance for 6 months. If looking to buy your used car from a dealer then this is the best way of doing so and can save you not only money but also a great deal of time.

There are many great used car deals to be had out there and it’s just a case of digging them out and finding the best and this is where the internet comes into its own. The easiest way to begin your search for the best deal is by using one of the popular search engines, this is your gateway to many bargains.



Louis Rix is a Director of NetCars, one of the UK's leading motoring websites. First established in January 2000, it provides used cars NetCars also provide finance, loans and insurance.