How to buy a used car without getting taken advantage of or ripped off
Being in the car business my entire life I can give everyone some tips on how to buy a used car without getting taken advantage. My father has owned a car dealership in Salt Lake City, Ut since 1984 since before I was born. I know some tricks that dealers will try to throw at you and how to avoid any purchasing mistakes that you will regret later on down the road. Not saying this is anything we would do as a dealer but I just know from experience and customers stories what dealers do and how to avoid any mistakes that you will regret.
Always look at the value
Some car dealers will try not to show you the value of the car and what it is worth, always look at the blue book value in your area. You can use Kelly Blue Book in most states and NADA where I live all the credit unions and banks use NADA so check what one is used in your area since both books will give you different values based on what part of the country you live in. A lot of dealers might try and sell you a car for more than what the blue book values are so make sure you check the value of the vehicle.
A blue book or NADA value will look this and give you clean retail value if it is excellent conditions then the vehicles will often sell for as much as clean retail values.
Always test drive the car first
Some salesmen will try to get around test driving the car and not offer you a test drive before you purchase the car. Always make sure that you test drive the car first, it is your right to test drive the car and make sure it drives correctly and doesn’t make any weird noises or sounds first before you make a purchasing decision.
Always talk price not payments
A lot of car dealerships will try and get you to talk payments not price, this is a trap to get you into a more expensive car then you originally had in mind of purchasing. So instead of talking $5,000 or $10,000 dollars now they have you talking $250, $350, or $500 a month that could amount to a much larger purchase then you originally had in mind. So avoid talking payments because you also do not know how many months they are talking they could be basing their payments on a 6 or 7 year loan to make it sound like it is a lot less money, but you are actually spending more money.
Look at the Carfax history report
Some car dealers will tell you that Carfax is not a reliable source so you should not worry about looking at the vehicle history report, this is a lie Carfax does have a lot of good information such as police records, dmv records, state government records and maintenance records that tell you when the vehicle was serviced and what work has been done to the vehicle. Carfax does not know every single thing that has ever happened to the vehicle but it does have a lot of good information and should be looked at before making a buying decision. I have seen times where you cannot tell if a car has been wrecked but the Carfax says that it has had a major accident or has been in a flood, it can be a good tool to determine if you want to pursue the vehicle you are looking at.
Do research before going car shopping
Research what kind of car you are looking for before you go shopping. Know what makes and models you are looking for. Search local advertisements and see what deals are being offered can save you money, some dealers have advertise only deals where it is cheaper on the advertisement then at the store and the salesperson won’t tell you about the advertised deal unless you bring it up because they are paid commission on the deal based on profit. You can search for deals on cars here and see what local deals are being offered in your area or search Creigslist and your local classified adds.
Make a list of what the car needs
On used cars they are bound to need something that you can use as part of your negotiations in the deal. Make a list of everything that the car looks like it will need later on down the road and tell the dealer to deduct the repair amount from the price or to repair the items you mention.
Check the mechanical condition of the vehicle or take it to a 3rd party mechanic
It can be a good investment to spend $50 to have a vehicle inspected by a 3rd party mechanic you can uncover potential hidden problems that could cost you more money later on down the road, some dealers sell cars real cheap, just because it is real cheap does not mean that it is real good, they could be looking to hurry and sell a vehicle because they know the vehicle has a potential hidden problem that could cost you a lot of money in repairs later on down the road.
Check to see if the vehicle has a timing belt or timing chain
If the vehicle has a timing belt you need to know if it has been replaced. A timing belt replacement is required every 100,000 miles on every vehicle unless it has a timing chain. A timing belt replacement often costs $800-$1,000 or more depending on the mechanic it is an all day job, you have to take the motor completely apart in order to replace the timing belt. A timing chain does not have a recommended replacement interval though.
Check to see if the oil is dark or has water in it
If the engine oil is dark black this is a sign that the oil has not been changed for a long time or the vehicle has not been maintained properly. If you can see a water substance in the oil that is another sign that the vehicle could have some issues possibly a bad motor. The oil should be clean and clear no burning smell or anything out of the ordinary.
Let the vehicle run for about 5-10 minutes and check the thermostat on the car
If the thermostat on the vehicle shows it is red hot after running for 5-10 minutes the vehicle likely has an engine problem or a radiator problem, or worse possibly a bad motor. If the thermostat doesn’t move at all then the person/dealer might be hiding a potential problem, it is either missing the thermostat or has a bad thermostat. The thermostat should be right in the middle of the temperature gauge normally.
0% Interest gimmick
Many dealers will offer 0% interest just to get you in the door to finance a car with them. This is almost always just a gimmick and isn’t really saving you any money. Instead of trying to get 0% interest tell them you have your own financing and to give you a cash discount instead, usually dealers will be willing to give $1,000 or more off instead of doing their financing for 0% interest. And the 0% interest is usually only for like a 10 or 20 month period so after the period expires if the car is not completely paid off you get charged back interest for the entire length of the contract which is usually much higher like 15-20%, and most banks and credit unions are offering as low as 3% interest rates right now.
Conclusion
In conclusion I hope that this guide can help everyone to buy a used car without paying too much or getting ripped off. Do your research and decide for yourself if what you are looking at is a good deal or not. If the deal seems to good to be true then it usually is nothing's for free in this life. Don’t let a fast talking salesmen talk you into making a bad decision that you will regret for years to come. You are making a big decision and your money only spends once so use it wisely and look the car over good and check it out.
If anyone has any questions please just feel free to ask me I like answering questions and getting feedback from my readers to see if I am doing a good job, also feel free to post links for your post if you want me to check your post out as well, thanks for reading.
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Source for photos: http://economicresearchwallpaper.blogspot.com/, NADA, http://editorial.autoweb.com/, http://www.mytotalretail.com/article/positive-side-price-discrimination/, Carfax, http://cep-probation.org/, http://www.halliecrawford.com/2015/dream-job-identify-your-ideal-career/create-a-contrast-list/, http://www.toy4x4.net/timing_belt/
Information very useful thanks a lot
I am thinking of importing a used car from Japan. There is obviously no way I can test drive it. Do you have an experience importing cars?
Importing cars across seas like that is expensive probably at least $1,000. I have imported cars from Nevada to Utah just to import that distance is about $350 per car for a 6 hour drive. I would probably just look at cars locally instead for $1,000 can
That extra $1,000 you'll spend on importing is expensive you'll need to be saving a lot of money to make it worth it. Plus if it is from Japan you will have to convert it to miles because most foreign cars use kilometers and I think to convert it from kilometers to miles is at least a few hundred bucks. And you can't test drive it, it's not worth it unless your saving at least $2,000-$3,000 I don't think anyways.
Thanks!- i never knew about the timing belt vs. timing chain!
Great advice! I was a mechanic for 15 years and I did a lot of prechecks on cars, we only charged 50 bucks. It is well worth it. Sometimes you can get the seller to pay for it.
In my honest opinion, Used or New car doesn't matter their is always a chance that you will get ripped off. First of all, all cars are made differently which is why the say there are american made cars and those oversees, if there even really made oversees?? Or America just bought out the name and are making them and saying yes this is an original BMW, Benz, Audi, etc.... But its probably not because its made from materials made here in the U.S. so now you might come across an actually car made from oversees and you see what it can do and you sit their thinking. I have the same model, make, and year car why can't mine do the same as this one?? The only reason why I even brought up if the car is American made or from oversees is because people value oversees car more than American made car because they have proven to take a beaten more than an American made car. Who really knows how accurate that is though, its really a hit and miss, big industries such as the automotive industries are always looking for ways to make money. So you'll pay the extra money feeling good and safe thinking I just bout a foreign car but how do you know for sure?? Trust me when I say all cars are a ripe off just buy a car new or used at a price your willing to pay. Because whats the value of a car really they all breakdown and there all always deemed good when they are running..
Buying a used car can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can avoid getting taken advantage of or ripped off. Start by doing thorough research on the vehicle you're interested in, including its market value, common issues, and reliability ratings. When inspecting the car, pay attention to signs of wear and tear, and consider getting a professional inspection for peace of mind. Additionally, ask for the vehicle's maintenance records and vehicle history report to uncover any potential red flags. Negotiate the price based on your research findings and the condition of the car. And remember, if you're in the market for a trustworthy used car dealer, Toyota Odessa offers a wide selection of quality vehicles. Visit their website at https://toyota-odessa.com.ua/ru/ for more information and start your car-buying journey with confidence