The tricks to spotting a great deal on a used car

Buying a used car can be a big money saver, but it’s easy to get burned because quality and price don’t always go hand in hand. If the price of a used car seems too good to be true, it probably is. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying the car from a dealership or someone advertising online; the truth is, you need to keep your eyes open so that you don’t leave yourself vulnerable to people who may take advantage of you.  Here are some tips that can help you get a great deal on a used car.

Verify the history of the used car you’re about to buy

If the vehicle is less than ten years old, check its history for damage. If it’s older, you need to look at the maintenance records. The difficulty with this step is that most scams will attempt to mask a bad history. So, it’s best to check a used car’s service history and records by visiting your local dealership. Of course, getting the dealership to give you access to the records can be difficult. You can use online services to see if the vehicle has been involved in any accidents, and you should give it a quick look over to make sure everything the owner says is true.

Check to see how many miles the car has on it

Mileage can tell you a lot about how the previous owner drove the car. A car that has been driven a lot will have more problems and will wear out faster than a car bought by someone who drives it less. This can be a huge money saver if you buy a car with low mileage. Sometimes if you buy a car from someone like a businessperson, it might have high mileage, but be well taken care of. Someone who has to drive a lot will put quite a few miles on their car, but if they take good care of it, you might be able to get the vehicle at quite a worthwhile discount.

Have a mechanic take a quick look over the car

You need to do this in any case, as you never know if mechanical problems might crop up. If you can negotiate for a mechanic to review the vehicle for free, this can be an absolute must. Sometimes mechanics will offer their service for free in hopes that you’ll have them make any repairs if they’re necessary. However, if you must pay for a mechanic to look over the car, don’t hesitate. If you’re not a trained professional, it’s easy to overlook something that might be costly to repair. Also, it’s easy to miss certain signs and problems that a mechanic might see when driving the vehicle.

Never rely on your gut instinct

Your gut instinct is almost always wrong. When used cars in Sacramento, always do your due diligence and make sure you know what you’re buying. If your gut instinct were ever right, you’d be able to pick every winning lottery ticket and stock on the stock exchange and profit big time. Unfortunately, your gut instinct isn’t going to be right every time, and you should never rely on it in this case. Take the time to check out the used car you are thinking of buying.