What to Check When Buying a Used Car

With a huge selection of used cars that spans makes, models, and prices, it can be difficult to know where to start the car-buying process. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by where to begin, Wilson KIA is here to help! We’d love to help you learn more about what to check when buying a used car so you can shop with confidence and get exactly what you want in your next used car.

What to Check When Buying a Used Car: At Home

Flowood drivers can get a head start and take their time in the early stages of buying a used car by doing this research in advance from the comfort of their homes:

• Check Your Budget: Knowing how much money you have to spend is one of the hardest parts of any car-buying process. That’s why we offer complimentary budgeting tools you can use from home without obligation. Our payment calculator will help you see how much you can afford to pay each month, while our Value Your Trade tool will give you an estimate of how much you can get when you trade in a used car. 
• Check Automotive Reviews: When you buy a car that’s a few years old, you’ll have the benefit of plenty of professional and consumer reviews to help you see how models have aged. Some resources you can consult are Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power and Associates. They can tell you how makes and model years have aged, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has vehicle safety information that covers many years. What’s more, you can get an idea of how much it costs to own a specific make and model. 
• Choose Your Year, Make, and Model: With your financial and vehicle information in hand, you can narrow your search down to three to five makes, models, and model years. 

What to Check When Buying a Used Car: At the Dealership

Kicking the wheels won’t do you much good on a Ridgeland used car lot, but these steps will tell you what you need to know when you’re buying a pre-owned car: 

• Check the Vehicle History Report: Start by checking the used vehicle’s maintenance record. A car whose previous owners stayed up to date on regular maintenance is far preferable to one with a sketchy maintenance history. You’ll also want to choose a car with a clean title that hasn’t been involved in any accidents. A vehicle history report also allows you to verify the miles on the odometer. 
• Test Drive: As with any vehicle you’ll want to see how it feels to drive it in Brandon to make sure it has the amount of power you want, responsive brakes, and that there aren’t any unusual noises or vibrations. And, of course, to make sure it’s comfortable for you.
• Inspection by a Mechanic: While every pre-owned vehicle on our used car lot has been inspected by the certified technicians in our service department, it’s still recommended that you have any used car you’re interested in buying inspected by an independent mechanic. 

Choose Your Next Used Vehicle at Wilson KIA

Do you feel better about what to check when buying a used car? We hope so at Wilson KIA! Contact us with any questions you might have about the used car-buying process and the benefits of buying a used Kia.