With the cost of new cars continuing to rise, used cars can represent great way for you to purchase a great ride and save a lot of money
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There are many places you can find used cars. The first place to consider is a used car dealer. This may be a business which only sells used cars or someone who sells both new and used cars.
The positive thing about purchasing from a dealer is that most of them inspect the car very closely and then fix the major things which need attention. Many of them also offer some type of guarantee.
However this is not always true and you have to evaluate the dealer you are considering very carefully. There are some car brands which have certified used car programs through their dealers. This tends to provide you with a car which has been thoroughly inspected and must meet stringent requirements for quality and performance. However the price tends to be higher than similar vehicles purchased through other means.
Other ways to purchase a used car are through private sales. This means you buy a car from an individual owner. You can also purchase a used car from an online used car auction site like eBay motors.
However you decide to purchase your used car, research is essential. Once you have located one or more cars you are considering, you should use the web to help you to determine average used car pricing and quality ratings for similar vehicles.
There are some vehicle brands which have a good reliability and performance history. You would tend to have less problems with these cars. Or you may find that repair costs or parts costs are lower than other vehicles you are considering.
There are also programs like CarFax which can provide you with a report on a specific vehicle which lists repairs or even if the car was in an accident. Since the dealer may not otherwise be aware of this information, it is helpful to check this out.
If you are considering the purchase from a private seller, you should ask if you can have the car inspected by a certified mechanic. Many garages will do this for a nominal fee and is advisable. If the seller refuses to let you get the car inspected, you should be very careful since they may be trying to hide negative aspects about the car from you.