The more you know about a used vehicle, the more prepared you will be to make a smart buying decision.

When purchasing a used vehicle, it’s important to learn as much as possible before handing over your hard-earned money to a seller. Consider asking yourself these questions to help you determine if a particular used car is right for you.

Get to know the car’s history

• How many previous owners has the vehicle had?
• How long has the seller owned the car?
• How was the car used?
• Has it ever been an accident or damaged in any way?
• Is the car still under warranty?
• Is the title clear?

Services such as CARFAX can help fill in the details of a vehicle’s history with previous ownership and accident reports. If a car has had many previous owners, this could be a clue that there is a problem with the car.

Discover the seller’s motivation

• Why are you selling the vehicle?

Aim for a direct answer. For example, the seller wants a larger vehicle for their family or something that’s better on gas for their commute. Lengthy or complicated explanations should raise a red flag.

Learn about the car’s condition

• What’s the mileage?
• How has the car been maintained?
• Are maintenance records available to review?
• Are there any repairs that need to be made?

A well-maintained vehicle with documentation to back it up will be more reliable that one with constant issues.

Discover the seller’s position on price

• How firm is the price? 

Understanding where the seller stands on price lets you know if there’s room for negotiation. Many sellers advertise a higher price with the expectation that buyers will haggle.

Financing your used car

When you find the perfect used car, turn to Consumers for financing. Our auto loans have some of the best rates around.

Consumers provides banking services for more than 120,000 members. If you have banking questions, call us at 800-991-2221. We make it easy to bank how you want, when you want.

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