The used vehicle market is on an upward swing. According to statistics the sale of used vehicles touched 36.5 million in 2008. On the contrary, the sale of new cars was only 13.2 million during the same year. One of the main reasons for this type of a difference in the sales may be a sharp decrease in the value of new cars in the very first year of their purchase. According to statistics, the value of a new car can decrease by 20-30% in the first year itself. This shows that buying a used car is not a bad idea. In fact, you may get a good vehicle at a reasonable rate. However, you have to be cautious while buying used cars, as it is always a challenging job to figure out the best from a bunch of many.

How To Select Best Used Car

You must be careful while selecting the best used car. You need to take a range of available options into consideration. Below are some of the points that should enable you to make the right decision in this regard.

Choose Car According To Budget

Before making a decision to buy a used car, make sure that it is well within your budget. Ask yourself whether you can afford the car. If the answer is in the affirmative, the next thing is how you are going to arrange finances. For this purpose, you may take a loan to buy the used car, as paying the entire amount on your own may not be possible. These days, many car dealers also provide for easy motor financing. However, too much dependence on borrowing may put unnecessary financial burden on your shoulders. Try to restrict the loan amount to a minimum. The best option is to arrange finances in advance so that you can be in a better negotiating position with the dealership. Arranging finances before going to the dealer may offer you a number of advantages, such as

*Competitive rates of interest

*Elimination of the possibility of dealership financing

*Strict adherence to your budget

One of the newest and easiest ways to get loans is online lending. Here you have to apply for a loan on the Internet. On receiving your request, the lender calls you within 15 minutes to inform whether the loan has been sanctioned. If it has been approved, the lender sends you the check by express mail. You can use the check to make a payment to any car dealer of your choice within the next 30 days. However, it is not a matter of obligation if you have not used the check in the stipulated period. Another excellent source of motor loan is Credit Union. You can easily become a member of a credit union and get auto loans at competitive interest rates.

Know Your Target Used Cars

Once you know that you have sufficient finances to buy a used car, select one according to your likes and requirements. You can choose from a wide range of cars, including SUVs, economy cars, and so on. However, do remember that for leading brands, you may have to pay a heavy premium price. You can certainly save on that heavy price, provided that you are willing to settle for the competitors of the leading brands.

Always Test Drive Used Cars

In order to find the best used car, make sure you test drive it. While test driving the car, properly examine each and every aspect. In a test drive, you set the agenda, not the dealer or the owner. If you find anything uncomfortable about the car, just walk away. Always trust your gut feeling and make an informed choice. However, a little homework before the test drive is always useful to find your desired car. During the test drive, your goal is to figure out mechanical problems so that your mechanic may later mend them. Do not ever try to solve the problems associated with the car during the test drive.

Find Best Used Cars

Once you are sure that you want to buy a used car, start looking for options. Shop around the city to find out various dealerships. Always visit several dealerships before settling down for one. Do not forget to glance through your daily newspaper, as you may come across an interesting offer.

The classified section in newspapers is a good source of information on a variety of used cars. It is always better to carry out research to find a suitable car. Talk to various used car dealers and ask them relevant questions about the car. Try to know about the car's history and pay special attention to its efficiency, mileage, and lights. You can also obtain a lot of information about secondhand cars on the Internet.

Finding the best used cars is not a very difficult task. You can easily find one, provided that you follow the aforementioned relevant steps. Be realistic in your approach, and do not get swayed just by the external beauty of a used car. Weigh your options and select a car accordingly.