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10 STEPS TO BUYING A USED CAR
Step 1: Find Out How Much You Can Afford
Step 2: What's the Right Car for You?
Step 3: Find Your Car's Value
Step 4: Contact and Communicate with the Seller
Step 5: Get Both a History and a Safety Report on the Car
Step 6: Conduct a Thorough Walk-Around
Step 7: Conduct a Thorough Test Drive
Step 8: Go the Extra Mile to Assure Quality
Step 9: Negotiate Your Best Private Party Price
Step 10: Negotiate Your Best Dealer Retail Price
Step 9: Negotiate Your Best Private Party Price
When buying from a dealer, you may receive a limited warranty (perhaps 30 days) and many dealerships offer manufacturers' Certified Pre-Owned programs for their late model cars that can extend the warranties out a number of years. Some advantages of buying from a private party include a lower price, you will have all the repair records (if they are available) and you know the previous owner, should any questions come up later.Most private party cars are not in perfect condition, which is why Kelley Blue Book's Private Party Values are usually much lower than used Retail Values. Most of the time, the seller and buyer assume the car is "AS IS," but there are always exceptions. Also, most sellers add in a few hundred dollars to the asking price for negotiating. Unless the seller specifically states the intention of a "firm" price, there should be room for some negotiation.
