Car Buying Tips You Should Second Guess

Over the years, we have all heard the tips and tricks of things to look for when buying a new car. From kicking the tires to conducting research, there are an endless amount of things to look out for when purchasing a pre-owned, or certified pre-owned car, truck, or SUV. 

CarFax is Not An End All Be All

CarFax, and other similar vehicle history reports such as Autocheck and so on, are amazing tools. They have revolutionized that used car market and made it easier to have a better understanding of a car's history. But they do not tell all. 

Vehicle history reports are only able to see what was, well, reported. If an accident, vehicle maintenance, or mechanical damage were not reported to insurance or reported by the repair shop, they will not show up on the vehicle history report. Also, the report may show conflicting, or confusing information about the past owners, especially when a car changed multiple hands in between auction houses or dealers. 

So while we still suggest getting a CarFax for any pre-owned vehicle that you are looking to purchase, take all reports with a grain of salt, and learn to read between the lines of the CarFax. Side note: most reputable dealers provide you with a CarFax, if the dealer does not have a CarFax available for a vehicle, this may be a red flag. If you are buying from a private party, the responsibility may fall on you, as the buyer, to purchase a vehicle history report, and is something you will have to work out with the owner. 

Conduct as Much Business as Possible Outside of the Dealer

Many people will tell you to handle as much of your business as possible outside of the dealer, but this is not always the best case. We have said ourselves that getting as much completed as possible before getting to the dealer is a great technique to saving you time, and possibly money. While this is true, there are also many factors that are made much easier by heading into the dealer. 

For example, financing applications. Dealers have the ability to search through several lenders when qualifying you for financing. When one simply fills out the financing app online, it gives a flat rate number, but the financing manager may be able to finagle the system to get you a better rate, or get you qualified when you previously thought you couldn’t be.

Dealer Inspections May Miss Key Information

Dealer inspections are great. The dealer has spent a great deal of time and money certifying their mechanics to quickly run through a car, and make sure it is running in tip-top shape. The problem is, they don’t always catch everything.

When purchasing a pre-owned car, many dealers have an inspection process that every vehicle goes through to make sure it is safe to drive and sell. That inspection, however, does not necessarily mean that everything gets replaced. Unless it is a certified pre-owned car, there is no obligation on the dealers to ensure that the cars are in perfect condition. 

There is a distinct difference between a “dealer inspection” and a “certified pre-owned vehicle”, the details of which we can dig into a later time. For now, what you need to know is a certified pre-owned car has been put through a rigorous inspection laid out by the manufacturer to ensure you are buying a “like-new” car. A “dealer inspection” is a simple inspection done by the dealer to ensure the car is in good enough condition to sell. 

Quick Note

There is one way to avoid all of these issues. Buy a new car. Purchasing a new car you don’t have to worry about previous owners, inspections, or any of that. You know what you're getting, right out of the box. 

The note about heading into the dealer does apply to new cars, however. I would recommend you get as much done as possible outside of the dealer, and still make an appointment to go in and meet with your salesman.