10 Tips for Buying a Used Car

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

With the economy being in a downturn, everyone is looking to save money.  That goes double when it comes to buying a car.  Since new automobiles lose as much as 20% of their value in the first year alone, savvy buyers look to save money by buying a used car.  That being said, before you sign on the dotted line and drive off the lot with a lemon, there are a few things you need to know. When you realize the average cost of a used car is now $33,000 according to Auto Week, if you want to make sure you get your money's worth, here's what you need to know.

How to Keep Your Car Longer

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy flickr

A friend of mine recently lamented that he paid as much for his new car as he did on a house a couple of decades ago.  He further complained that his previous car wound up only fetching him $2,500 in trade-in value even though it was less than 10-years old.  If you’re like me, you want to get your money’s worth out of one of your biggest investments, I’ve come up with a few time-tested tips that are guaranteed to get the job done.

How to Avoid Used Car Scams

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy flickr

If you’re like most consumers, you tend to hold onto a car as long as it still has some life in it.  Today’s vehicles are way more reliable than those made even a couple decades ago.  That means if you maintain your vehicle, chances are it will last at least 200,000 miles.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to someday part with your four-wheeled friend once the cost of maintaining the vehicle starts looking worse than a car payment.  If you like to buy used as opposed to a new car, there are a few things you need to know. 

Used Car Buying Tips

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy of flickr

No matter how much you baby your car, sooner or later it comes time to move on.  Unless you intend to buy a new car, there are several things you need to consider before you sign on the dotted line.  This is true whether you buy your car with a private owner or from a used car lot.  There are too many ways to hide damage, roll back an odometer, or make a car seem more road worthy than it really is.  If you want to avoid winding up with a lemon, here are some tips you need to heed.