By: Rudy Silva
Submitted: 2009-12-07 23:06:18 | Word Count: 783
If you are interested in buying a used car, check with your friends to see if they know someone that is selling their car. Buying a car from a known person can save you money. In additions, you may find out if the car is in good condition. But still you have to alert and look over the car with a mechanic.
If you consider a car from a friend or a trusted acquaintance, you can ask a lot of questions about the car before you buy. This will give you a clearer idea on the quality of this used car. When you make the visit to the car, be prepared with you mechanic to do a test drive.
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However, if none of the used vehicles suggested by your friends interests you, there is another source of information about the used cars for sale. You can turn to the classified ads section of the newspaper in your local community. This is also a convenient approach as you can narrow down your searches by deciding the specifications of the car you want to buy.
Specify the type of car you want to buy whether it is two-door, hatchback, station wagon, four-dour, sports utility, sports car, pickup truck, a four-wheel or two-wheel drive car. Determine the model, engine type, mileage, color, accessories and upgrades.
List down the ones that appeal to your style based on the information they provide on the ads. Contact the owners to ask for important details that are not included on the advertisement. Only when you are satisfied with their answers should you request for a physical inspection of the car. It saves you both time and energy.
If you have access to the internet at home or office, go to Craigslist. Craigslist is an online classified ad site. There you will find cars for sale. You can also setup an account with just your email and put an ad there and indicate the type of car you are looking for.
There are also websites that are devoted specifically to selling used cars. Now, if this is your first time, you can type in the phrase how to buy a used car on the search box. The list generated by Google will give the information you need to find your used car.
In the brick-and-mortar shops, you can also see used vehicles that are manufacturer-certified pre-owned cars. These dealers may charge you more. But, the good thing about buying pre-owned car is its limited warranty. During the warranty if there is a major issue with the car you have recourse.
If you want to buy a car from a private person, you have to be organized about it to avoid confusion and unnecessary issues. Make a list of your top seven cars you want. Then contact the owners. Go to the ones close by. If you do not have a mechanic friend, bring a friend who knows cars. If you don’t have any one to go with you, make arrangements with a shop where you can take the car you like to have it inspected.
Ask from the owner for maintenance records of the used cars so you can get a copy. If the car is advertised online, the website makes the maintenance records readily available.
Get the vehicle information number, VIN. Do a check on carfax to get historical information on the car. Carfax will give actual mileage, number of times that the title of ownership was transferred, accidents that it was in, and other details.
When you go to inspect a car at a dealer or private party, ask to test drive the car. Check the outside of the car for evidence of accidents and look at the condition of the headlights, taillights and all other outside parts. Look inside the hood and see how clean the engine is and how clean the radiator water is.
Get inside the car and tests all the electrical accessories. Check the heater, air conditioner, windows, radio, and tires. Look to see if the tires will need replacing and if you have a spare.
Once you decide on the car, check that the owner has the correct pink slip and can sign over the car to you. Once you purchase the car you will have to register it under you name at the DMV.
Author Resource:-
You can look through a big inventory of used cars at http://www.northwestcarsandtrucks.com . If you are looking for used car in Washington, you will find it here. Our car magazine, North West Cars And Trucks, lists plenty of used cars. On our site you can find used car dealers. Visit Visiting seattle dealerships to search our site for your car.
