How to Know if You Can Trust a Used Car

Buying a used car on the private market can be a roll of the dice. The car you found on Craigslist is not necessarily going to be in great shape, no matter what the seller tells you. Buying from a dealership offers more peace of mind. Authorized dealers like Deery of Ames have service departments that can inspect and condition used vehicles. However, we want to make sure that Ames, IA drivers shopping for a used car have the information they need to get a quality used car. This article is going to discuss a few best practices when purchasing a used vehicle. And you can always reach out to the friendly folks at Deery of Ames for help finding your perfect vehicle.

What to Look for When Buying a Used Car

There are a number of things that one ought to do when buying a used car. Following this advice will help you avoid proverbial lemons. First of all, you should always buy a vehicle from a reputable dealer – no matter how good the car on the side of the road with a “For Sale” sign looks. Deery of Ames has a long tradition of service to the local community, and we want to make sure our Ames, IA customers are truly happy with the used car they buy here. If you drive by many used car lots you see online, they don’t have service bays. So how sure are they of the condition of the vehicle? What happens if there’s an issue? All of a sudden, you need to trust a third party with the repairs. Some programs do exist to help buyers navigate the process of buying a used car. Certified Pre-Owned status means that a vehicle has had a complete inspection, and that any issues that came up during that inspection have been resolved. One can also request a Carfax or Autocheck report. Both of these services draw on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to help prospective buyers avoid red flags. These include, for example, salvage titles and major repairs that might resurface in the future. These services will also help insure that you get a clean title, which is essential when buying any vehicle.

What Comes After Buying the Car

Buying a used car is just half the battle. Like any vehicle, it will need service once you’ve purchased it. One of the benefits of buying from a reputable dealer is that you have access to after-purchase service options. Deery of Ames, for example, offers Used Car Warranty Forever. This program covers the entire drivetrain of qualifying vehicles for the entire life of the car, so long as you do regular maintenance on it. This means that the engine, transmission, and drive assembly are all completely covered if any issues should arise. Most reputable dealers will also have their own service department, like Deery of Ames does. This is ideal as you know that the people who will do maintenance and any repairs on your car are already familiar with the vehicle, or at least have access to the dealership’s files on it.

Conclusion

There are a number of things to watch out for when buying a used car. You want to make sure that you get a clean title and that the vehicle is in great shape. As such, you would be well-served to buy from reputable dealers, and to make sure to check a prospective purchase out with a reporting service. When it comes to after-purchase service, the best things to look for are strong warranties – like Warranty Forever – and a service department in the dealership. Luckily for the residents of Ames and of Iowa in general, Deery of Ames has all of these services available. You can confidently purchase a used vehicle from the good folks at Deery because you know that you’ll get it in great shape, and that the professional dealership staff will make sure that the car stay that way even after you’ve taken it home.

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