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Used Car Buying Tips

At ABS, we believe a "used car savvy" customer is better equipped to find the vehicle that matches his/her needs, and will appreciate the way we do business. 

 
Is it better to buy from a dealer , person-to-person , or an individual ?


Benefits of Buying From a Professional Dealer - a dealer:

  • Offers a warranty and often an optional service contract
  • Will take your trade-in
  • Will, in most cases, assist you in getting financing
  • Has a reputation to protect
  • Knows his best source of new business is the referral of a satisfied customer
  • May have a service facility and offer the customer a discount
  • Can help you any time after the warranty period has ended by seeing that you get the best price on the repair by using his resources and contacts
  • In most cases will let your mechanic look at the car

You :

  • Are protected against being stuck with a vehicle that may later show up as being stolen
  • Are protected against odometer fraud


Risks of Buying a Vehicle Person to Person:

  • May be dealing with a "curb-stoner." (A person who buys and sells cars for profit, without a license)
  • Have no recourse if you buy a bad car
  • Forfeit most of all the advantages of buying from a dealer
  • Lose the car and investment, if the car you purchase later turns up as having been stolen, whether the seller was involved in the crime or not

Important Things to Know When Buying a Used Car From a Dealer:

  • Check the dealer's reputation and complaint record by calling your local consumer affairs office.
  • Ask the salesperson for the names of three people who have purchased cars there in the last 90 days, and ask that he do it on the spot while you wait.
  • Ask the salesperson if their dealership is a member of the state dealer association
  • Ask the dealer for permission to take the vehicle to your mechanic to have it checked over.
  • Ask to see what repairs have been done since the dealer purchased the vehicle, and have explained to you ,in detail, what the dealer has done to insure to you that this will be a good, reliable car.
  • Find out all of the details about the dealer's warranty and repair policy.
  • Ask the dealer to explain his price and to support it by a book value.
  • Avoid high pressure and "you must decide now" techniques.
  • When leaving a deposit, do so with any and all conditions of the sale spelled out on the buyers order with yours and the salesperson's signature.