Purchasing Used Cars

Before getting your own car, it pays to do some homework. Think about what you need, what the car will be used for, and your budget. Look in books and online and think about repair costs, safety tests, mileage etc.


All this research can save you some serious money and help you avoid being ripped off.


After choosing what car you want, you must then decide how you'll pay for it. You can pay the whole amount upfront or you can finance the purchase over time. But you'd end up paying more if you use financing.


When you've decided how much you can put down, you must then look at the annual percentage rate (APR) of the loan and the length of the loan to see how much you have to pay per month.


Usually, the shorter the term of the loan, the higher would be the APR. For teens, it would be a good idea to co-sign with your parents since you'll be able to get a better rate that way. You may also want to think about paying in cash for a less expensive car.


Dealer or Private Sale?


Now this is quite important. Buying from a dealer would usually mean you have to pay more. But the good thing about a dealer is that you can always go back if there is a problem. Dealers usually offer warranties.


Buying from an individual would mean that you would have to deal with the problems of the car that would arise after the purchase. You also can't go back to complain. But you can buy a car at a lower price if you buy from an individual.


First of all, a mark up would not be added to the price of the car. And if you bring along your mechanic or someone who knows a lot about cars, you can have the car checked out to make sure everything is in good condition.


But before you buy a car, make sure that you examine it with an inspection checklist. Get a good test drive over varied road conditions and be sure to get the car's maintenance record. And if you have major concerns, you can have a mechanic inspect the car.


And before making the purchase, make sure you can meet all the costs of having a car. These include insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs.

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