How to Buy a Used Car Online

When you are considering buying a used car, you want to go into the deal with as much knowledge as possible. You also want the full range of choices available to you, which buying online can provide. You can buy a car from the comfort of your living room, and have it delivered to your home or you can go to pick it up from a local dealer. There is no pressure to buy, and no hassle. Sounds good!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Credit card, loan, or enough cash to buy the car

1. Visit the official Web site of the maker of your car. The site should have specific information on various models. Also look at local dealers to see what they have on the lot.

2. Seek out a third party reviewer like Edmunds.com, which reviews cars as well as presenting new and used cars for sale, for a more objective opinion. The more sources that you can use to compare, the more accurate your information is likely to be.

3. Get a Carfax report to see if your car has been damaged in the past.

4. Conclude the transaction online or have the car held for your approval once you have chosen a vehicle and the place to buy it.

5. Pick up your car, or have it delivered. And don’t forget to enjoy the ride!

Tips & Warnings

• Check to see if any of the Web sites you are using have a comparison feature to check out more than one car at once.
• Don’t forget important features like gas mileage.
• Look for a used car that is local or else you might have to travel to get it.
• Don’t believe everything you read on a dealer’s Web page. Remember, they want you to buy the car.
• Never buy a car without looking at it first. A picture might not show you all of the minute scratches in the paint job.