Do Your Research: Top 3 Tips for Shopping Used Cars

If you’re looking to gift yourself with a set of new wheels this holiday season, you’re not alone! Going the new-to-you route with a used car will be easier on your budget, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider before heading out to the car lots! Check out our top three tips for making sure you find the right vehicle, at the right price, from the right dealership.

1. Plan a Budget.

Whether you’re looking to treat yourself on a “splurge vehicle” or are trying to keep the expense as low as possible and avoid any kind of car payment, the first step toward your perfect new ride begins with nailing down your budget. It’s easy to wind up spending more than you intended when you head to the car lot with no budget in mind, and end up falling in love with a vehicle outside your price range. Why not do the math ahead of time to figure out exactly what you’re able to afford, to avoid buyer’s remorse down the road?

You’ll reap big benefits when you see that a little planning goes a long way.

2. Know Car Prices.

Once you’ve nailed down your budget, it’s time to do your research on what the make and model of the used vehicle you’re shopping for is going for these days. This will depend on a variety of factors including year, mileage, if it’s been involved in an accident before, and many other details that come into play. While you hope that you’ll be given honest information and pricing concerning the used cars on the lot, you also need to be sure you won’t be taken advantage of simply because you didn’t do your research.

If this is all new to you and you’re not sure where to begin, sites like Kelly’s Blue Book are a helpful place to start for a baseline of various makes, models, and their value.

3. Research Car Dealerships.

With your budget established and car value estimates in mind, it’s finally time to go look at your options! Of course, researching car dealerships is just as important as investigating car values. That’s right, you should never walk blindly onto a lot ready to hand over a significant chunk of your hard-earned money to just any dealer. However, taking the time to make phone calls and read site reviews for dealerships (before driving over to them) can help you gather all the information you need as to whether or not you’d want to purchase your used vehicle from them.

Reading online reviews and learning from other people’s experiences can save you from making some of their mistakes, and help you rest easier in your decision to purchase from a particular dealer.

The Monarch Auto Sales Difference

Monarch Auto Sales offers a wide variety of quality used vehicles and is a dealership founded on the mission “to help customers with poor credit break the vicious financing cycle and to help those with no credit get a start on their dreams.” When you come to our dealership looking for a vehicle, you can rest assured you’re working with a team of honest experts with your best interests in mind. We also proudly offer a Buy Here, Pay Here option!

Search Our Online Inventory

Shop our online inventory today, so you’re ready to come out for a test-drive tomorrow!