Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

Deciding to buy a used car is a big deal, and you don’t want to do it without being certain that you’ve chosen the car you really want. To determine whether the used car you’re looking at is the one for you, it’s helpful to ask yourself and the dealership some questions that will help you narrow down your options.

1. How Much Can I Spend?

First, you should take a careful look at your budget to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a used car. Used cars are thousands of dollars cheaper than new cars, but they’ll still cost you a fair amount of money. You can often still use financing to buy a used car, but you’ll need to determine how much you can put towards a monthly loan payment, along with insurance, maintenance, and storage fees.

2. What’s the Vehicle History?

Asking the seller how long the previous owner had the car, how it was used, where it was parked, and what maintenance was performed on it can help you decide if the car has been taken care of well enough to be worth the purchase. Obtaining a vehicle history report using the vehicle identification number (VIN) can help you get accurate information in this regard.

3. Is There Still a Warranty?

If you’re buying a vintage car, the answer to this question is undoubtedly no. However, for cars that are only a year or two old, there may still be a valid and active warranty on the vehicle, which you can take advantage of. Ask the seller whether there is still coverage, or take a look at the vehicle history report.

Ready to buy a used car? Stop by our dealership in Holland, MI, to take a look at our fantastic inventory of used cars for sale. Express Auto is proud to be your Western Michigan used car dealer, serving greater Grand Rapids, MI.