Small Business Automobile Association of America

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Buying a Used Car can be a great deal or not!

Buying a used car can be a great way to save money.  Many two year old vehicles sell for just 50% of their original factory MSRP and may still be under the original factory warranty.  This means thousands of dollars in savings to you.  But, before you start shopping for a car, you'll need to do some homework.

Spending time now may save you serious money later. Think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget. You can learn more about car models, options, and prices by doing a little research online. 

There is a wealth of information about used cars on the Internet: Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Autotrader are just a few locations to research actual vehicle pricing and availability.  SBAAA members can compare car models, options, and costs, and get information about frequency-of-repair records, safety tests, and mileage.

Once you've narrowed your car choices, research the frequency of repair and maintenance costs on the models in auto-related consumer magazines. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Auto Safety Hotline (1-800-424-9393) gives information on recalls or use this link to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Before You Buy A Used Car

Whether you buy a used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car:

• Examine the car yourself using an inspection checklist. You can find a checklist in many of the magazine articles, books and Internet sites that deal with buying a used car.
• Test drive the car under varied road conditions—on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic.
• Ask for the car's maintenance record. If the owner doesn't have copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done. They may share their files with you.
• Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car's history.
• Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.

Check out these other used car topics:

• Buying from a used car dealer.
• Buying a car from a private seller.
• Paying for the used car.
• What's the Warranty?
• Service Contracts and Extended Warranties.
• Car Ads: Reading Between the Lines
• Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair

Next Steps.....

Trade Value  -   Financing  -  Leasing  -  Insurance -  Warranties