Are you interested in buying an excellent used car? There are a lot of benefits to buying brand spanking new vehicles, but the value of it is cut in half the moment you drive it off the lot and it instantly goes from “brand new car” to “pre-owned vehicles” status. Meanwhile, an excellent used car holds the value you pay for it for a lot longer. In fact, if you do your research, you can find an excellent used car that you’ll be able to sell for close to the amount you paid for it down the road (pun intended). A few things to keep in mind while shopping for an excellent used car include:
- Look for brands that hold their value.
When buying a used vehicle, you might feel inclined to go for the lowest price tag. However, as they say, you get what you pay for. Yes, every once in a while you’ll stumble upon a neck-breaking deal that seems too good to be true. However, in most cases, when a car costs you next to nothing, it’s going to be worth even less than next to nothing a few years from now.
We aren’t looking to get a “cease and desist” letter from any lawyers, so we aren’t going to name the brands that don’t hold their value here. However, before buying a used vehicle, check out the Kelly Blue Book value for older models of your vehicle. If the older cars are worth substantially less than to car you’re buying, you know that’s what you can expect from your car. - If possible, look for certified pre-owned vehicles.
There are about a hundred million components inside a car that makes it operate. That means that when you buy a use car, there are about a hundred million components that could be in need of repair. There is a certain level of risk you’re taking when you buy a used car, that you won’t drive it off the lot and then have it go kaput.
You can sharply reduce that level of risk by looking for certified pre-owned vehicles. When you buy a certified pre-owned vehicle, it has the seal of approval from the manufacturer of the vehicle that a mechanic who has gone through that manufacturer’s specific training school has looked over your vehicle with a fine tooth comb. This means that you’ll have peace of mind that your car will not immediately require a hundred expensive repairs that dip into recovering the value you paid when you go to sell it later. It also means it will be easier to maintain the quality of the car, so that it will be in good shape when you’re ready to sell it. - Spend the money on a comprehensive maintenance plan.
Even if you know your car doesn’t require any big repairs when you buy it, it is going to need regular maintenance along the way. If you’re the type who can stay on top of your car’s maintenance yourself, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, for the other 99% of the population that has a hundred and fifty other responsibilities to manage, having a comprehensive maintenance plan is worth every penny it costs you.
When you have a comprehensive maintenance plan, your mechanic will notify you when you need to bring your four-wheeled baby in for an oil change, transmission flush, timing belt replacement, and so on. This will keep your car in pristine shape for a long, long time. Additionally, when you’re ready to resell your car, having records of all the maintenance that you stayed on top of like clockwork will make potential buyer want to buy your car. We know that because we’re car experts maintenance records are one of the number one things we look for in a used car!
In general, buying a used car is a better financial choice than paying full price for a brand new one. It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into though. Before buying a used vehicle, look for a brand that holds its value, shop for certified pre-owned vehicles, and stay on top of maintenance. That way you can save bucks on your car, and get the money back when you sell it.