| September 3rd, 2010 by Admin One of the best savings tip I’ve learned from my dad as a child when it comes to buying cars is to scout for used cars for sale in my area before looking anywhere else. Simply by punching in your state and the model and make of the car you’re looking for on search engines online, you’ll find many of the best deals in town. Of course, you can also look at the classified ads in your local newspaper, but that can be pretty stressful. |
Warranty says it all
In all used items, especially in cars, the first thing you should look at is the type of guarantee or warranty being offered to you by the dealer. Used cars are like the “mystery meat loafs” in your cafeteria. You never know how good or bad they actually are unless you’ve tried them. Hopefully, the used car you’re looking at is a good meatloaf. The thing is, you’ll never really know unless you drive it around town, and there’s no returning the purchase unless it’s backed up by a warranty.
The best type of warranty anyone can give you with a used car for sale in your area is a manufacturer’s warranty. This tells you one thing: your used car is fairly new and unbroken, and you’re entitled to about a year of free services should anything go wrong. However, used cars with manufacturer’s warranties are rare and slightly pricier. You also have to be willing to shell out a few more bucks for the transfer of these documents and privileges to your name.
Another warranty you can expect is the “implied” warranty, which is usually given by the dealer him/herself if the used car is older. However, this is more primitive compared to the manufacturer’s guarantee. Usually, the only question at hand is whether or not the car runs. If it has a cigarette burn or a scratch, it’s no longer covered by the “implied” warranty. You’re going to have to shoulder the repair costs on your own if you want the minor defects fixed.
Some used cars also come with no warranty. They’re sold “as is” and it’s stated in the contract. This means that you’ll be liable for the repair costs of whatever defects the car may have after the purchase. No one else will shoulder these repairs for you.
Safety and security features
Remember, your expenses don’t stop at the purchase of your used car. After the initial purchase, you’ll also have to worry about the vehicle’s insurance. This is the reason why you should check if all the safety and security devices are intact. These devices determine the cost of your monthly insurance premiums.
Some insurance companies might even refuse to insure your car unless these devices are present. Check the used car on sale for proper seatbelts, airbags, lock systems and burglar alarms. If one of them is slightly defective, you should ask for a discount since you’ll be repairing them later on and this can cost a lot of money.
