Many people know that when you’re in the market to buy a new car, one of the smartest decisions you can make is to invest in a used vehicle. Not only can a used car be significantly cheaper than a brand new one, but if you look hard enough while car shopping, you can find something truly special that you won’t mind paying for the next few years.
The issue here is that while used cars themselves are convenient, the ways people acquire them sometimes aren’t. We’ve seen many potential buyers think they have to travel far to be able to get that great car they’re vying for, but they will end up spending more time, money, and effort needed than if they would’ve started their searches with local car listings.
When you’re going to be spending that kind of money, you want to make the car buying process as easy as possible for yourself. There is a plethora of resources at your disposal ranging from visiting private or larger dealers to online ads that will tell you if a great car option is right around the corner from your house. Below is our list of some of the best ways to look for a used car locally before you branch out too far.
Independent Dealers
The great thing about independent dealers is while they are of course smaller, a number of them can be found in almost every city, meaning that you won’t have to travel very far before finding one near you. Because independent dealers aren’t associated with specific brands or automakers, one’s car selection can vary widely, giving you many options to choose from and test drive. Quality can also vary widely with these types of dealers so make sure to do your research beforehand and use resources like Kelley Blue Book and other car sites to see what your potential car is really going for.
Another perk of independent dealers is that they are usually pretty flexible with negotiations and pricing. Many of them will work with you if you have poor credit or need some kind of loan. This means that you’ll have a better chance of getting your dream car! Also, even if the interest rates and monthly payments may not be the best at certain independent dealers, you can still shop around at other lots near you before choosing on one plan. Take your time, and don’t be afraid to visit more than one place!
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace
Because Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are extremely efficient and popular, you’ll see a mix of people posting used cars to buy onto these sites. Both private and bigger auto dealerships post on both, so you’ll have more than enough to choose from when starting your search.
Craigslist is useful because you can narrow down your search city by city. You can also set other filters such as pricing, newest listings posted, and much more. Just remember that you might have to sift through page after page of options before finding something worth contacting the owner or dealer about.
Facebook Marketplace also utilizes search filters to make your car buying journey easier. What common to find though is that information might be limited on some of the listings so don’t be afraid to contact dealers and owners with any questions. With both Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace also, you’ll most likely run into scammer advertisements so don’t rush your process!
Local Bigger Dealers
Just like with the smaller, independent dealers, almost every city will have the bigger, brand-specific dealers to be able to visit such as Ford, Honda, and more. What many people forget with these is that these big dealers always carry a number of used cars themselves that range in quality and pricing. For example, if you know that you can’t afford a brand new BMW but can put enough down on a used one, you can visit your nearest BMW dealer and see what pre-owned cars you can purchase under your terms!
Visiting one of these dealers benefits those who want to make sure their used car was properly re-inspected and reconditioned. They also come with great warranties and deals to compensate any possible higher sticker prices. If you know that your budget is flexible and you found a great local car, this could be the better option for you!
Smartphone Apps
There are now countless smartphone apps to take with you on your car buying journey. In fact, we’ve seen many car buyers whip out their phones to show us what they were looking within the car listings near them as they were talking to us! These have changed used car buying as we know it because people can not only search a seemingly endless inventory any where they go, but they can also make purchases with just a few clicks.
There are many apps to choose from such as eBay Motors, CarMax, Truecar, Carvana, and more. For someone that wants to buy a used car, these are great because they track your location to let you know the best deals near you. You can also use different search filters and tools to specify what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a certain classic car around your area that’s within a price range, you can set the search tools to reflect those terms.
Learn Our Best Ways To Look For A Used Car Near You Today! ❤️
Visit CARite.com For More Info!
Comments