Why You Might Want to Buy a Used Car

The universal lesson of 2020: Life is unpredictable.

You may have been planning to shop for a new car.  Your lease may be up and you need something more affordable. Or maybe you gave up a car, because you moved to a big city. Or maybe you planned on a long commute, but now find yourself needing less car, because you’re working at home.  

It’s all part of the before and after. You didn’t expect a pandemic, and no one really knows what’s going to happen next.

Experts tell us that planning can help alleviate worrying when outcomes are unknown. Planning for various scenarios helps temper the anxiety we feel about the unknown. But how do you plan your day-to-day life when so much seems uncertain?

Planning starts with understanding your options, and even in times of uncertainty there are always options.

When it comes to figuring out your mobility future, we suggest testing out the Le Car experience to get a better handle on what might best suit your shifting wants and needs.  If you decide you need to depend on a car, Le Car recommends the makes, models and features that fulfill your wants and needs. Perhaps the thought of spending more money than necessary on a big-ticket purchase may seem overwhelming. 

Before you move forward, you may want to consider buying a used car. The right pre-owned vehicle can look and feel brand new, and be a great compromise on your next vehicle purchase.

Simply put, you may get more for your money by opting for a user car.  

Why a used car is a better value:

The second you drive a new car away from the dealership, the vehicle’s value drops, a business term known as depreciation. Depreciation is one reason why used cars are cheaper. Buying a used car and hanging onto it for a number of years, saves the most in a long-term budget.  

You may be able to afford a more premium pre-owned car, or a car that has more options than the base model, including the latest safety technology. To get a read on the used market, determine how much you can — and should — spend, and then narrow down your buying options. 

Where to buy a used car:

A traditional car dealer

If you’re looking for a dependable, long-term solution, we suggest going gently used: A Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is a security blanket to guard you against a headaches and give you a warranty. 

You can only get a certified pre-owned vehicle when you buy directly from a car dealer. Its important to note that not all vehicles purchased from a car dealer can be sold as certified pre-owned. In order to qualify vehicles as pre-owned they must be less than five years old and have less than 75,000 miles travels. The vehicle should also have been checked for major problems by the dealership’s service department.

Because the dealer may put extra work getting the car up to standard for warranty, the price may be higher than purchasing from an outside source. The protection of a dealer comes with give and take. 

Online

The list of used car retailers is long ranging from Carvana, Carmax to KBB. EBay unless you really know your car stuff. See our article about how to shop online, without ever visiting the dealership.

Used car from the current owner

We recommend you proceed with caution when you buy from an owner. Most important is to ask a lot of questions and find evidence to support your research. When you inspect the car, look closely.

When you test drive the car, show up with a notebook and diligence for any red flags. You also need to make sure that you are buying from a legitimate owner. A legitimate owner will possess the title, the car’s certificate of ownership. You also want to ensure the car hasn’t been in an accident. You can verify the car’s history by running a vehicle history report, which also records the miles traveled on the odometer.

For peace of mind, invest in an independent mechanic to verify the condition of the car before you sign on the dotted line. You can ask the buyer for a service record to verify prior repairs were done properly. You also will want to ensure the car does not have active recalls for defective parts made by the manufacturer. You can find this information on NHTSA website.

Other details to search for include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), a 17-digit code that every car has to identify its unique build. It’s noted on the sticker inside the driver’s door, at the base of the windshield and other places in your car. Your car only has one VIN number — and these numbers should always match.     

The VIN number is attached to the car’s history and the source for checking on the title and any major incidents that could have caused prior damage such as an accident or a flood.