How To Get a Great Deal On Used Cars in Edmonton

How To Get a Great Deal On Used Cars in Edmonton

Keyword(s): used cars in Edmonton

Is it time for you to buy a car? Buying used cars in Edmonton is a great option. You lose a significant part of your investment just driving off the lot with a new car.

With the popularity of leasing new cars, there is now an army of used cars that are almost new. Sometimes they even still have some warranty left. You get a great new (used) car for a lot less money.

How should you go about buying used cars in Edmonton? Here are a few tips to help you get a good deal and avoid getting ripped off.

Take Your Time

When looking for used cars in Edmonton, it's important to remember to take your time. This is perhaps the number one way to avoid getting ripped off.

Decide what kind of car you want when you're not at the dealer. When you do go to look, don't let the salesperson sidetrack you.

You came to look at and buy a certain kind of vehicle. Don't let them talk you into an impulse buy that is not what you had in mind.

Do Your Research

Fully 83% of buyers do some online research before buying. You should be one of those savvy buyers if you're looking at used cars in Edmonton.

The Internet is a rich source of good car-buying information. Make sure you're visiting reputable sites like ours. The Internet is also full of bad information.

Find out the going rate for the type of car you want to buy. From that information develop an idea of how much you can expect/be willing to spend.

Set both a floor and ceiling rate for yourself. The floor should be around 5-10% less than the average price you're finding. The ceiling is your own personal limit. This would be how much you are willing/able to spend.

Know What to Ask

Be sure to take the time to jot down a few important questions before going to the dealer. Writing it down will keep this information in front of you. This will help you to avoid forgetting to ask these questions if the salesman gets you excited. Make sure you keep it handy and refer to it.

Good questions to ask include:

• How much can I expect in running costs?
• Has the car ever been in an accident?
• Is there a warranty?
• What does the warranty cover?
• Why is it for sale?

As you do your research you may find some more relevant questions. You may even find some specific to the type of vehicle you are looking to buy. Keep all this information handy as you look around.

Be Firm About Budget

Car salespeople are notorious for getting more money out of their customers. They work to get people excited about a flashy option that is a little outside of their budget. A lot of times, it works. People end up with a cool car, but a financial headache.

Don't be one of those people.

Remember your floor rate? This is where that research comes in handy. Tell the salesman your floor rate, but don't ever give out your ceiling.

You can even be up front and tell them that you've done your research. You already know the going rate and cars in that price range are the only ones that interest you.

Most salespeople will still try to distract you with a flashier option. After all, their livelihood depends on how much they can sell a car for. Be polite but firm about what you want to see and don't let them sway you.

Be careful when discussing monthly payments with a salesperson. A common sales technique is to ask what you can afford monthly and your ceiling rate. They then use that information to "hide" what you actually end up paying for the car.

Remember, don't give out your ceiling rate. If you do need to talk monthly payments, pay close attention to the actual final price of the car.

Do a Test Drive

We don't recommend ever buying a car without doing a test drive. There is so much you can learn from it!

Keep an eye out for obvious things like signs of damage, weird engine noises, etc. Does it smell funny? Or can you smell gas or oil burning?

Check all the lights and switch on the heater and air conditioning too. How are the brakes? Do they feel good and not make squeaking noises?

But don't use the test drive for only checking the vehicle's function. Check it's comfort too. Every vehicle is a little bit different. You will find some vehicles are downright uncomfortable for you to drive.

Do you have to duck your head to enter? You can bet you'll be banging it all the time. What about legroom and headroom inside the vehicle? How's the back support?

Can you see out of the windows without too much trouble? If you have to move around a lot that will get old on long trips and could be dangerous.

Have a Trusted Mechanic Look At It

If your brother-in-law or uncle is a great mechanic, ask him to come along while you shop. It is always great to get the advice of a trusted mechanic when buying a car.

Not everybody is lucky enough to have a family member that is a mechanic. That's okay, there are still options for you.

Once you have your sights set on a car you can call an outside mechanic to come in and review it. This service isn't too expensive and is worth it for the peace of mind. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a used car, only to find out something's wrong!

Ready to Look at Used Cars in Edmonton?

Now that you know how to buy a used car it's time to start looking. We have tons of great used cars in Edmonton! You can even check out some of our inventory online before coming to the lot.

Feel free to contact us with any questions. Our friendly staff is always happy to help!