The world isn’t doing too hot right now with the high prices of groceries to houses. The auto industry has been one of the hardest hit industries with the low supply of new cars and now more than ever people are looking for used cars.
Car inventories are still short anyone looking for used cars right now is having a hard time. It’s a seller’s market right now for any type of vehicle. Some used cars have spiked to an all-time high in price and you have even seen cars that are three years old cost as much as a new vehicle.
With buying a car there is a lot of pressure to make a purchase but there are five things to consider since some car dealerships have high markups on used cars and really no promos.
Know what your auto financing needs to look like
Figure out your auto financing first since buying a used car in areas of South Bend or Chicago can be intense you need to figure out a working car budget. You want to figure out how much car you can afford. Get an auto loan for just the amount that you need for the car. Look at the interest rates for auto loans in your local area because you don’t want to get an auto loan that has a jacked-up rate where you’re paying out the butt on a car.
Work with the auto financing in the way of what you can afford with a down payment on a used car in New York or Santa Barbara California. Most people like to put $500 down on a used car but you can find car dealers that will take $99 down for a used car. Also, you will want to read over the auto loan terms to see how friendly they will be for you.
It’s best to work with a credit union or a bank you have been at for years. This will help you lock down auto financing before you go to local car lots and car dealers in your local area. Plus with a pre-approval auto loan, you will have a baseline of what the dealer financing can be and compare loans. In addition, you can snap up the car you want may be at the price you want when you come prepared with auto financing in hand.
Research the cars you want
Do your research on the car beforehand the car dealership near you may not have the new car or newer cars you’re looking for in stock and it’s best to start that journey online instead of making a foot trail from dealer to dealer. Always check the car lots website for new and used cars and even call their customer service number. There is a good chance that some car dealers may not have the car you are looking for. If you have a car that you are set on you should be checking the following.
- You want to check out how reliable the vehicle is
- Take it for a test drive to see if you feel or hear anything on the vehicle
- The overall safety of the vehicle
- You want to make sure you are satisfied with all aspects of the vehicle
Making a short list of vehicles you want to test drive can save you time searching for vehicles plus give you a good understanding of vehicle features you want and don’t want. This can help you make a more sound choice on a car.
Get the car straight from the manufacturer
You can actually order straight from the manufacturer to avoid car dealer markups. This can save you on dealer fees as these savings will be passed on to you but you have to be willing to be patient so wait about six weeks for a vehicle. Some people look at buying a from the manufacturer as a blessing because they don’t have to deal with the car dealer pricing and fees or add-ons.
Widen the radius of local car lots
If a car dealer in your local area doesn’t offer the car you are looking for then you might want to widen your dealer radius within reason. The test drive is critical before you sign for the car. This step is most critical for used cars as you want to know what you’re buying. Plus you want to make sure it’s what you need in a vehicle.
Select a good reliable car
Buy a reliable vehicle is a must and with car prices sky high finding the right reliable car is important. You want to read reviews and comments on what people say about the cars you’re looking at because you want a vehicle that’s going to last a few years and not be a problem under the hood.
Looking for new or pre-owned cars is best done when you’re doing your due diligence for the vehicle you want. Know the non-negotiable feature you can be talked out of for a vehicle. Doing your research for a vehicle now will only help you find more affordable new or used car options.
