Five Tips for Getting a Reliable Used Car

by TERRY BOLTON

One of the most difficult and important of skills to master is that of buying a reliable used car. New cars are not a fiscally sound option for most individuals. Unreliable cars are not a sound option for most individuals either. Used cars are usually cars that someone for some reason doesn't want anymore. That means there is a good chance any given used car is an unreliable car. The tips below are aimed at helping you learn to find a reliable used car instead of a piece of junk.

1.Check the Vehicle Identification Number

A Vehicle Identification Number (also known as a VIN) will tell you a lot of good information about where your car has been and its history. Take a look at the car you are interested in the extreme lower corner of the windshield, on the dashboard, you'll find a long string of numbers. There are many services online that will look up VINs for you, and tell you things like where the car has been previously. This can help you stay on top of things like the vehicle's history and accident record.

2.Insurance first

If you are interested in buying a new car, remember to check the auto insurance first. Head to your existing insurer and ask them how much it will cost to insure a used car. The rates will be different from those quoted for a car that is new, and if this is going to be a surprise for you, you should get it out of the way before you purchase the car and it becomes inevitable. Insurance is a big part of buying a vehicle so don't neglect this step.

3.Check out unusual places to find cars

A posted ad or a used car dealership might not have the best buy for your money! One place that many people don't think about looking is the local car rental. These cars get turned over regularly and although they might be dinged or scratched, their engines have often been kept in good working order on a precise schedule, something you really cannot say for privately owned cars.

4.Check the mileage

It is very possible to roll back even digital odometers. When you get a Vehicle History report, make sure to compare the mileages. If there is a significant difference, that the dealer never mentioned to you, you might want to take your business elsewhere.

5.Get the car checked out

If you have a car that you think might suit you, get it checked out. No matter how smoothly it runs or how much you trust the used car salesman, remember that for many used car sales, you will need to sign an "as is" agreement. Your insurance will not pay out if it turns out that the car was in a prior wreck that you were unaware of, so make sure that you don't have to pay out thousands of dollars later for something a seventy-five dollar examination could have saved you from.

Be aware that successfully buying used cars hinges on several different factors, so see what you can do to improve your opportunities at cheap used cars online