Things To Consider When Buying A Preowned Vehicle

Buying a preowned vehicle is a good way to save some money and get a dependable vehicle for personal or business use. Working with a dealer to buy a preowned car or truck is a great place to start and see what they have to offer. 

Certified Preowned Vehicles

Many dealerships such as SZ Motor Cars offer certified preowned cars, trucks, and SUVs for you to purchase. Certified vehicles are ones that have come in and been thoroughly inspected before they go out on the lot. Most dealers use one of their repair techs for the inspection, and in many cases, they fix anything that needs it. In some cases, that means adding new parts to the car, and certified preowned cars often have a warranty on the car offered through the dealer or through the manufacturer. It may be a limited warranty that only covers specific parts of the car; other times, it may cover the entire vehicle.

Rental Inventory

Some dealerships offer rental cars to their clients but don't keep the cars too long before they put them on the lot and sell them. The idea is to keep the cars' mileage low and to make the customer feel like they are getting a new car anytime they rent a car from the dealer. When the dealer decides to sell one, the car is typically in very good condition, and since the dealer has already made a lot off the rentals, the price tag may be low and a good value. The cars are not always perfect, but most of the time, the dealer will warranty a car mechanically for a few months after you purchase it. 

Trade-In Cars

Trade-in cars may go to auction, but if the dealer gets a car that is in great shape and has some value to it, they will sell it on the lot to recover what they paid for it. In some cases, you can buy these cars very inexpensively. Check with the dealer to see if they have anything for sale that fits those guidelines. If the car is not good enough to sell on their lot, the dealer may sell it to a local used car dealership.

The used car dealer may sell the car as-is, or they may do some work on it before the sell it. If you are buying from a used car dealer, you should ask if they have done any work on the car or not. They will typically tell you if they bought it and are selling the way it came in; in fact, in some states, it is illegal for the dealer to not disclose that information.