As anyone who has ever bought a used car probably knows, it can be a bit of a stressful experience. From trying to figure out what make and model you want and determining if the pre-owned car is in good shape to negotiating the price with a salesman, purchasing a used car can leave even the most level-headed guy or gal feeling overwhelmed. As someone who has worked for years at used car dealerships, I want to share with you some tried and true tips that will help make buying a pre-owned vehicle as easy as possible.

It wasn’t that long ago that people who wanted to buy a used car had two main options: a traditional used car dealership or buy here pay here lots. These days, folks who are in the market for a used vehicle have a lot more buying options to consider. Most traditional car dealerships have plenty of pre-owned vehicles for sale, so it should be pretty easy to find a plethora of places to purchase a car.

To be sure that you are getting a used car that runs well, be sure to take the time to examine the car before you sign any contracts, as Beatthecarsalesman.com suggests. As someone who has seen hundreds of pre-owned vehicles, I can personally vouch for this piece of advice. For example, be sure that the car’s body is straight. Stand at the rear of the car and look to see if the rear wheels are lined up squarely behind the front wheels. Look for mismatched paint on the body, which can be a sign that the car was in an accident.

Even if you don’t know anything about engines, look under the hood. Do you see cracked hoses or torn belts? Is anything dripping from the car? Peek under the vehicle and check for pools or fluid. All of these situations are red flags that something might be wrong with the car.

One thing I cannot emphasize strongly enough is to get a full vehicle report before buying a used car. Once you find a pre-owned car that you like, write down the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and arrange to get a car-history report before buying. A history report will give information about what the car has been through, including any accidents and possible problems with the odometer. Believe me, I have seen customers who have fallen in love with a used car only to change their minds after seeing the car report.

Because even pre-owned vehicles can cost a pretty penny, I strongly urge you to do your homework first before even thinking about buying used; this will help make the entire process go as smoothly as possible.

This entry was originally posted on Friday, December 7th, 2012 at 7:17 pm and is filed under Auto Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.