A great place to start doing some research for a used vehicle is on car sales websites, like CarSoup.com or FindCars.com. A car sales website can help you learn about what options are available in your area and price range. These websites generally offer search options based on location, price, mileage, body style, make, model, year, and more. These websites will save you time in your research because they aggregate the information from multiple dealers and even private party sellers into one place. Make notes about the vehicles you find and research the individual makes and models to learn about potential issues and find customer reviews.
Every year there are various consumer reports released about the best new and uses cars and trucks, like J.D. Power’s Annual Vehicle Dependability Study. You can use these reports to help you narrow down the list of options you found while doing your research on the car sales websites. These reports will tell you what vehicles fair better over time, types of mechanical issue you can expect to experience, as well as offer recommendations for best vehicle in each category. Reviewing these consumer reports when finding a used vehicle will save you money, because you will know which models tend to experience mechanical issues versus those that are more dependable.
When you have finally determined which vehicle you want to purchase, it’s recommended that you spend the $40 to purchase a Car Fax Report. This report is basically the vehicle’s medical history; it will be able to tell you if the used vehicle has been involved in any accidents, had major mechanical repairs, as well as any recall information or warranty issues. Purchasing this report is an especially important step in your reliable vehicle search if you are purchasing a vehicle from a private party, rather than a dealership. As dealerships are more likely to disclose any known issue the vehicle has had than a private seller. Lastly, because the report does cost money, it is best to have narrowed down your choice to one or two specific vehicles before purchasing the report. You would not want use a Car Fax history report to help you determine if the vehicle is reliable until you’re positive you want to make the purchase.
Once you have completed your initial research, one last step you will want to take to find a reliable used vehicle is to complete a manual inspection of the car or truck. This step is important. Even if the Car Fax history report comes back clean, it can’t tell you what issues the vehicle may currently be experiencing. It is recommended to find a Used Car Buying Inspection Checklist to make sure you don’t miss any areas that should be inspected. Make sure to take notes about any issues you find, often times a dealer maybe willing to make mechanical and cosmetic repairs to the vehicle as part of the final negotiations. Completing a manual inspection of the vehicle will give you peace of mind that you have found a reliable vehicle.
Knowing how to find a reliable used vehicle is key for staying on budget and ensuring peace of mind during your car buying experience. It’s important to use all your available resources, like consumer reports and manual inspections, to find a reliable vehicle that will last you for years. If you don’t take the time to do your research you can end up with a used vehicle that costs you money and stress, rather than one that dependably gets you from place to place.