Buying Tips

10 Steps to Buying a Used Car

• Choose the right vehicle for you by making sure the car suits your needs.



• Consider all cars in the class you have chosen (compact sedan, SUV, station wagon, etc.)
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• Look up the car on Edmunds.com and check its reliability and consumer reviews.



• Check the Edmunds.com TMV price on the car you want to buy (adjusted for mileage, options, color and region).



• Decide how much you have to spend on your new car purchase: down payment, monthly payment and purchase price.



• Decide how you are going to finance your car. If you are going through a bank, on-line lender or credit union, obtain loan approval before you start shopping.



• Using the Internet, and Edmunds Used Vehicle Listings, search for the used car you've decided to buy.



• Call the seller and verify the pertinent information. Get the VIN. Run a Carfax report on the car.



• Test drive the car under your normal driving conditions. Take the car to a mechanic if it is not certified by the manufacturer or covered by a comprehensive warranty.



• Negotiate your best deal.



• Read the contract carefully before signing and always make sure you get a clean title.



• Look up the Edmunds.com Cost to Own for the car you want to buy.



• If you are financing the car, use the payment calculators to determine the monthly payment for the car you want to buy.



• Contact the Internet department and simultaneously solicit quotes from multiple dealers.



• If you are trading in your old car, check its Edmunds.com True Market Value and print out this information.



• Once you've reached a good price, ask the salesperson to fax you a worksheet showing all the prices, taxes and fees.



• Bring your worksheet with you to the dealership so you can compare these numbers to the figures on the contract.



• Inspect the car for dents, dings and scratches before taking final delivery.