Used Cars

Purchase used cars to save money for your business
By Shannon Tani Buying used cars instead of new ones just makes good financial sense. After all, a new car loses a percentage of its worth the second you drive it off the lot.

Despite the fact that you can often get a better deal when purchasing used cars, many people find the process intimidating. Used car dealers have a reputation of being dishonest, which makes people feel nervous. This isn't usually the case.

Some things that you can do to prevent allowing used car dealerships to rip you off are:

1. Have a trusted mechanic inspect the car before you buy. Used car dealers may have their own mechanics, but you want to have someone you know and trust to look at the car for mechanical problems.

2. Make sure the car has never been in a major accident. Each car has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that is unique. You can use this number to see if a car has had problems in the past.

3. Pay attention to how long the dealer has had the vehicle you want. If they have had it more than a month, you may be able to get a better deal.

Look at reviews of used cars online and learn their values

You'll have more leverage if you know what kind of car you want and how much you should pay for it. This will help you get the best deal possible.
Try:  Check out reviews of different used cars by visiting Cars.com. This will help you narrow down your choices. Once you know which car you want, or have narrowed it down to a few choices, look at the car's value in the Kelley Blue Book, a trusted source for used car prices.

Find used cars for sale in your area

Search your area for used car dealers or used cars for sale by owner. Realize that there will be a larger selection in cities, so make sure to search the surrounding areas if your business is in a small town.
Try:  AutoTrader.com has a good reputation for connecting used car sellers with buyers. They offer a nationwide search engine for cars as many as 30 years old. CarsDirect updates their inventory daily, so if you don't find what you want at first, you can check back later to see if they have it.

Consider used car parts when you need repairs

While there are some parts that you should buy new when they break, you may be able to purchase other parts, such as seatbelt fasteners or bumpers, used to save money.
Try:  ChooseYourItem.com offers several used auto parts for sale. Junk Yard Dog can help you find any salvage yards in your area.

• If there are many used car dealerships in your area, you may be able to get a better deal by letting one dealer know what another dealer is offering.