What to Know When Shopping for Used Cars

If you’re in the market for a good used vehicle, then you’re in the right place. Bill Volz Westchester has a variety of options when it comes to quality used vehicles. We have everything from daily commuters and off-road-ready options such as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, to premium luxury vehicles.

Know What You Need

Before you start shopping for a quality used vehicle, you need to decide what you need out of that vehicle. Are you looking for something family-friendly, fuel-efficient, or luxurious? For example, if you need to haul stuff for work or play, you may want to look at the selection of trucks at Bill Volz Westchester. Consider the features you want as well when making your list.

Inspect the Vehicle

Once you’ve settled on the vehicle of your dreams, be sure to take a moment to inspect it thoroughly. You may even want to have your regular mechanic take a look at it to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. If you don’t have a mechanic to inspect it for you, there are plenty of options in the Cortlandt area who would be happy to help.

Get a Vehicle History

Ask for the CarFax on the vehicle you’ve selected. A CarFax report will provide you with information on the vehicle, including the number of owners and whether or not it’s been in an accident. Just because a vehicle was in an accident doesn’t mean you need to walk away from it, but having that knowledge helps in the decision-making process.

Consider a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle

Every vehicle listed as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle passes a stringent certification process and, if it passes, then undergoes a 125-point inspection. You can also add a 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 24-hour towing and roadside assistance, car rental allowance, and a 3-month/3,000-mile maximum care coverage to any of our CPO vehicles.

Know Your Budget

Purchasing a quality used vehicle is an investment, and you want to be sure you can afford that investment. If you plan to finance your vehicle, take the time to consider these three things:

• Monthly payment. When considering how much of a monthly payment you can afford, be sure to include the finance payment, fuel, and insurance. 
• Loan length. Your next consideration should be how long you want to make payments on the vehicle Loans with longer terms typically have a lower monthly payment but a higher interest rate. It’s best to take out an auto loan for the shortest amount of time that you can afford.
• Interest rate. Each lending institution has a different interest rate to offer and may even compete to earn your business by offering lower interest rates. When shopping around for a lender, watch all of the terms of the loan.

Our finance team works with each customer to ensure they get the right finance program to fit their needs at a competitive rate. You can apply online to become prequalified or use our payment calculator to help you determine your budget. We will work with you to get you the best loan possible to finance the vehicle of your dreams here at Bill Volz Westchester.

Posted in Advice | No Comments »