Buying a used car from a used car dealership can be a great thing, but far too many people are wary of it. A little bit of hesitation is good – it helps you to think things through, to do your research thoroughly – and so on. However, too much hesitation is likely to leave you foregoing viable and better options in favor of the known – even if the known is not necessarily in your best interests.
This article seeks to quell the fear of buying a used or certified pre-owned car from a used car dealership, shedding light on popular misconceptions and clearing up any questions that you may have. However, at the end of the day, it is also important to conduct your own in-person research, actually visiting some prospective used car dealerships in your neighborhood and talking to the staff on hand.
#1. You Can Save a Good Deal of Money
There’s no doubt about it that brand new cars are expensive, and not all of us have the funds to pay for one out of pocket and must, therefore, take out a loan on the car (there are various channels through which you can do this). This is not always ideal, and many are uncomfortable with owing so much money on top of things like their mortgage and potential student loans.
#2. You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Quality
This goes hand in hand with saving money. Who cares if your dream car has been owned by someone else before? It’s your dream car, and it’s now been made affordable. Go for it!
#3. You Can Ask All the Questions That You Need to – and Know That You’ll Get a Good Answer
After all, what else is a salesperson there for? At a used car dealership, you’ll be able to have all of your questions answered – and it is hugely important that you know that there is no such thing as a stupid question. It’s important to ask any question that may come up, as this will allow you to get a full picture of the car that you’re buying.
#4. You Can Go On a Test Drive
Test driving a used car before purchasing it is just as critical as test driving a brand new car. In both situations, test driving allows you to get a sense of how the vehicle behaves on the road and if you’ll be comfortable driving it in the long term. If there are multiple vehicles that you are seriously considering, you should test drive all of them, as this might help you narrow it down and ultimately make your final decision.
#5. You’ll Most Likely Be Provided with a Vehicle History Report
After all, not knowing what a car has been through means that you’ll not have as clear of an idea as to the capabilities of the vehicle if any solid idea at all. Having a vehicle history report not only means that you’ll be able to see if the car has sustained any damage but if the regular and routine maintenance of the vehicle has also been kept up, a key component in the overall health of the car.
#6. You Can Feel Safe and Comfortable About the Quality of The Car
This is a problem when buying from a private party, as you only have the current owner’s word to go by. A car bought through a private party transaction is far more likely to be in some state of disrepair, though this will, of course, vary from car to car. When buying a car from a used car dealership, on the other hand, you can rest more easily knowing that your car was approved to be put back up on the market and sold by the dealership.
#7. You Can Choose Between a Used Car or a Certified Pre-Owned Car
A certified pre-owned car is different in that it is likely to be a younger car, but it is a car that has been fully refurbished and rehabilitated, as well as intensively inspected at a number of points before being put back up for sale. This process does increase the price by a bit, but will still keep the price lower than if you were driving a brand new model of the car. This allows you to tap into a whole new realm of vehicles without going over your budget at all, an ideal thing for the vast majority of people looking to save a little bit (or a lot a bit, especially in today’s exceedingly and increasingly expensive world) of their money, especially if finances are tight.
#8. You Can Take Advantage of Some Premium Features
If you were buying a new car, you might not have opted to splurge on any of the premium features that were offered. However, buying a car from a used car dealership might allow you to do just that, as some of the previous owners of the vehicles may have already decided to buy premium features at the time that the car or other such vehicle was first ever purchased. In this way, you can live the luxury life without paying the luxury price.
#9. Finally, You Can Feel More at Ease By Putting Down More of a Down Payment
For many of us here living in the United States, paying for the entire upfront cost of a vehicle is simply an impossibility. Vehicles are expensive, and you should only pay for what you are able to at the time. However, it is typically recommended that you put at least ten percent of the total cost down at the time of purchase, if not even more than that if you are able. When you buy a used car from a used car dealership, you’ll be paying a lower price. Because of this, there is likely to be more room in your budget to put down a larger down payment, leaving you less to pay off in the future.
