Buying a new car is one of the biggest purchases that people typically make, and deciding to buy one can be an exciting and daunting process. There are so many options for dealerships and for brands that it’s hard to know what used cars in reno you should consider looking at. You may want to start your search by considering the most important factors like price or fuel efficiency, or by what size vehicle will best suit your needs.
Here are some tips on where to search for that perfect ride:
Your Local Used Car Dealer
You’ve probably heard the old adage, “buy local”. This holds especially true when buying a vehicle. While the Internet is a great resource for getting information about a car, dealership employees can often tell you more about the car than you may learn researching it online. This goes double if you’re talking with someone who has been around cars their whole life.
Online Used Car Reviews
Think of this as the Yelp or TripAdvisor of the used car market, and you’ll come up with a better sense of what companies to avoid and which ones to consider, based on other people’s experiences and opinions.
Where to Look for Used Cars
There are a lot of great resources online where you can find a good deal, but it’s important to remember that dealers have a vested interest in making their used cars look good and so will often hide any problems with the vehicle on the lot. Keep your eyes open, and take photos of any problems before purchasing the car.
Research the Vehicles You’ve Seen
Don’t believe the marketing hype. The car that looks like a great deal on their website might be a lemon on their lot. Some dealerships (whether new or used) will pull cars off of their lot if they don’t sell, but others will just make up repairs to hide any problems with the vehicle.
What’s Available through a Used Car Broker
These are often local middlemen who have really good connections to the dealerships in a particular area, and can usually find you a great deal on a new or used car. They’ll negotiate with the dealership for you and help you get the best deal possible.