Things to look for when buying a preowned vehicle

New cars have become more expensive than ever. Many Huntington residents may therefore be considering buying a used vehicle, possibly for the first time. There are, unfortunately, a number of pitfalls that one can fall into when buying a used vehicle. This article is going to detail three things that you should keep in mind to minimize risk when buying a preowned vehicle. We hope that these tips help you avoid the lemons that are out there!

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Check Out the Vehicle('s History)

When buying a used car you want to know what it has been through. Some vehicles have been in complex accidents, for example, which may have seen them sustain some permanent damage. The best way to check a vehicle's history is to get a vehicle history report. Carfax provides this service, as do many dealers - we can provide a vehicle history report with every one of the certified pre-owned vehicles we sell! In short, be on the lookout for anything strange in the vehicle's history.

You should also do a visual inspection of any vehicle before you buy it. Do the doors, hood, and trunk open and close smoothly? Do the body panels all line up? Making sure that the vehicle has a sound structure before buying is important.

Balancing Mileage Against Use

Most people would say that a used car with low mileage is the way to go. This is only true to an extent. Used cars that were not driven regularly may have low mileage, but infrequent use can see rubber and plastic parts that are designed to be used regularly become brittle. You might end up replacing parts quickly on a used vehicle with low mileage that seems too good to be true. You'll want to look for regular use by a former driver who took good care of the vehicle.

Find a Car that Works for You

Some Piketown drivers, when they decide to buy a car, go to the dealership having decided to leave that day with a vehicle. This helps one save time, but it can also lead people to buy a car they don't really want. Your best bet is to decide, before you go shopping, what you're looking for: do you want a truck? Or a sedan? Do you need three rows of seating for all of the kids? Knowing ahead of time what you want, and what you can spend, will help prevent impulse buying.

Another good way to prevent impulse buying is to do some research online. You can check out our online inventory of used vehicles with no pressure to buy today.

Conclusion

There are three things to keep in mind as you buy a used car: you're looking for a clean vehicle history, a car with a good balance of use and care, and the vehicle that is right for you and your specific needs. If you keep these three things in mind as you shop you'll be able to avoid lemons, and to get the car that really fits your needs!

Hometown Certified Pre-Owned is Ironton, OH's premier used vehicle dealer. We stock vehicles of all sorts of makes and models, and our professional and friendly sales team will do everything they can to help you find the vehicle that's perfect for you and yours. We hope to work with you soon!

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