finding a used car

What is the most effective way to find a used car?

     It used to be when someone needed a new used car they would go to their local paper into classified section and hope to find what they were looking for. Nowadays we have better solutions that provide us with immediate and relevant results, fast.

 Our favorite sites to find used auto are:

There are other websites where you can find used cars, but we haven't found them to be too useful in quick and efficient search.

Notes on using these sites:

     These sites are excellent resources, however, used car sellers use the opportunity provided by expanded space to often misrepresent the poor quality used cars by applying well crafted sales pitch. Watch out for those and make sure you do CARFAX VIN-check to make sure the used car you're interested in hasn't been crashed and repaired, flooded, isn't a lemon and haven't had it's odometer rolled back. This record check can potentially uncover problematic areas in used cars and allow you steer clear of inferior quality cars.

Be prepared to present fair market value of the used car you want to buy to the dealership:

     Often dealerships inflate the price of the used car to leverage negotiation points during the sale, however, if you show up with numbers that represent actual market value of the used car, you will be able to gain negotiation leverage yourself. We would recommend to keep this data to yourself and don't reveal your knowledge until you try other negotiation methods, as you might actually negotiate the price down to under the used car's market value. The best tool to research market value is kbb.com.

Few words about CARMAX dealership:

     We researched CARMAX dealership and found very inflated prices. It really is up to an individual to pay inflated prices for a bit of security knowing that the car is in good condition. However, we personally have known people who bought a car at CARMAX to have it break down a year later (automatic transmission overhaul). We personally think it's much better to pay normal market value or even slightly under market value (if you find a good deal) and get the car properly inspected by a qualified mechanic before buying. You may also do a check yourself, we provide extensive guide on how to do it in our mechanical section.

What if you found a rare car or option/color package far away from home?

     There is a company called SGS that does inspection service in the USA that will go and look at the car for a fee. Their inspection focuses mainly on overall look and performance, rather than in-depth analysis. However, their inspection is probably more cost effective than taking a flight a few states across only to find out that the car is a piece of junk.

Beware of scams if you're selling your used car!

     There are numerous scams going around, the general guideline is do not accept Western Union payments and never accept a check from someone over the amount of the actual sale. Cashier's checks are not same as cash! It is best to call the bank and verify the validity of cashier's check by phone before signing over the title. Verify every bit of information on cashier's check and get the buyer's complete information. Write out Bill of Sale and have the buyer sign it.

Few words about used cars on EBAY:

     EBAY is a great place to find variety of used cars, however, we haven't found it to be too useful, unless you're looking for a rare or antique vehicle. The hassle, time pressures and essentially not knowing what you're paying for when you're buying used car on EBAY all add up to a pretty risky transaction overall. It's not like buying a used laptop, by buying a used car you are potentially risking thousands and thousands of dollars. Personally, we prefer to inspect the used car we are interested in ourselves to make sure it is in perfect condition and negotiate with salesmen before deciding on a purchase.

Trade-in your used car or sell it yourself?

     Do not trade your used car in, unless you really have a lot of cash to spare. Dealership give absolutely downright low trade-in value for a used car. They might make you feel like you're getting a good deal when you're buying a used car from them, but they will almost always make it up by giving you too little for your used car trade in, or increasing your interest rate for your loan.

     It is much easier nowadays to sell your used car yourself, due to numerous internet based listings. Just put an add there and try to sell your used car that way. If it doesn't sell, you can always go to CARMAX or any other dealership and see if they are willing to buy your used car. Use this method only if you cannot sell your used car by any other means, though.