If you or someone you know is shopping for used cars in the Atlanta area, follow these must-know tips to ensure you save as much as possible and find the right vehicle for your needs.
Think about the overall amount you want to pay, not just how much you can afford monthly.
This is actually a rule of thumb for both new and used car shoppers. Focusing on the monthly payment only could lead to spending thousands more down the line if you're not paying attention to the total long-term cost of a car and the length of time that you wish to make payments.
Consider raising your credit score before financing.
If you have some time before you need to purchase a car, think about making an effort to raise your credit score, which could result in a lower interest rate. According to many sources, people can see an uptick in their credit scores pretty fast.
Credit bureaus are required to provide free credit reports once a year, so pull yours if you haven't done so already. You can dispute any errors you find on the reports and may also negotiate with creditors, asking them to change an account status to "paid as agreed" if you take care of your debt.
If you don't already have a credit card, get one but make sure you don't use more than 30 percent of the credit available. For any current credit card debts, consider paying your bill twice a month. These are just a few tips recommended by experts.
Look into purchasing an extended warranty or service contract.
If the used car you're considering is no longer under warranty, there are affordable services you can purchase to keep your car (and all of its vital parts) covered, so that you're not financially stuck if something goes wrong. MPP offers a variety of Mechanical Protection Plans for used cars, including Platinum Vehicle Coverage, which covers almost every mechanical and electrical component you can think of.
Do not slack off when it comes to doing your vehicle research.
Many fantastic guides are available for shoppers, from Best Buy awards to most-efficient and best used car lists, and these resources date back years and years. Experts from several publications, such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and Cars.com, spend countless days and hours testing out cars to put these resources together and they provide an independent, third-party perspective for shoppers.
Another recommendation is to create a spreadsheet with specs and other vehicle characteristics for later comparison. For example, you may want to keep a record of fuel economy ratings, front legroom, reliability ratings, average repair costs and more for each car model you're interested in.
Don't skip looking at Carfax reports.
Take a look at Carfax reports throughout your car search. They provide vital information, such as number of previous owners, whether a car has been involved in an accident or if a car has incurred structural damage, among other details. If you shop at Gwinnett Place Ford, we offer free Carfax reports on our selection of used cars. See for yourself here. Just look for the Carfax 1-Owner and Show Me the Carfax logos to access reports for free.
If you're in the market for a used car, check out inventory at Gwinnett Place Ford! We’re a used car dealer serving the entire Atlanta area and we sell many pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs from a variety of manufacturers.
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Pre-Owned Inventory