What to Check When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car for your New Haven driving needs is a great way to get a refresh without spending as much money as you would on a new car, but where to start? A full lot of used cars can be pretty intimidating if you don’t know what to check when buying a used car. Let Acura of Milford help you find your way around the lot with our tips on what to check when buying a used car!

Before the Dealership: What to Check When Buying a Used Car

You can make the car-buying experience a lot easier from the comfort of your Fairfield home when you do some research that will narrow down your choices:

• Check Your Budget: Do you know how much you can afford to spend each month, and how much car you can afford? Use our payment calculator and, if you have a car to trade, our value your trade tool to get a clear picture of what your budget looks like.

• Check Automotive Reviews: One of the perks of buying a used car is being able to research how makes and models have done as they’ve aged. Websites like Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power and Associates can tell you about dependability, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has vehicle safety information that covers many years. Check these sources for the cost of ownership and figure that into your budget.

• Choose Your Year, Make, and Model: You now have the information to choose what year, make, and model is right for you. Narrow your choices down to your top three, and then use our vehicle finder to start the search for your perfect car.

At the Dealership: What to Check When Buying a Used Car

Before you start kicking tires on our Milford lot, know that there are better ways to get an idea of a used vehicle’s quality on the lot. Here’s what you want to check when you make the trip from Bridgeport to choose your vehicle:

• Checking the Vehicle History Report: You want a used car that has a clean title and hasn’t been involved in any accidents, and you can get this info from a vehicle history report. You can also verify the miles on the odometer with a vehicle history report, along with how many owners the vehicle’s had. If maintenance records aren’t included on the report, ask about them. Choosing a car that was regularly maintained is usually a smart buy.

• Test Drive: When you take a test drive, you definitely want to make sure the car feels good to you, but also make sure it has the amount of power you want, responsive brakes, and that there aren’t any unusual noises or vibrations.

• Inspection by a Mechanic: The service department at Acura of Milford inspects every used car before it hits the lot, and our certified pre-owned vehicles have passed an inspection mandated by the manufacturer. Still, we encourage you to have the vehicle you want inspected by a mechanic of your choice.

Shop the Used Vehicle Selection at Acura of Milford

When it’s time to shop for a used vehicle, turn to Acura of Milford! We believe every driver deserves a reliable vehicle they enjoy driving. Contact us with your questions about what to check when you buy a new car.