Before You Look For a Used Car, Consider

Before You Look For a Used Car, Consider


Costs. Remember, the real cost of a car includes more than
the purchase price: it includes loan terms, such as interest
rates and the length of the loan. If you plan to finance the
car, you need to know how much money you can put down and how
much you can pay monthly. Dealers and lending institutions
offer a variety of interest rates and payment schedules, so you
will want to shop for terms. If, for example, you need low
monthly payments, consider making a large down payment or
getting financing that will stretch your payments over five
years, rather than the usual three. Of course, this longer
payment period means paying more interest and a higher total
cost.

Reliability. You can learn how reliable a model is by
checking in publications for the frequency-of-repair records.
Find out what models have repair facilities in a location
convenient to you and if parts are readily available at the
repair facility.

Dealer Reputation. Find out from experienced people whose
opinions you respect which dealers in your area have good
reputations for sales and service. You may wish to call your
local consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau
to find out if they have any complaints against particular
dealers.