Buying a pre-owned vehicle can be intimidating, especially if you've never done it before. Any major expense is bound to induce some sort of anxiety. Thankfully, despite what you may think, heading to a dealership isn't at all like walking through the saloon doors in the Wild West. Both dealers and manufacturers want to help you understand the ins and outs of the car you're purchasing as well as the buying process. One tool that's a great resource for nervous shoppers is the Buyers Guide, a document that can potentially put many of your fears about buying a used car to rest.
What is the Buyers Guide?
Dealers who sell used vehicles have to follow the Used Car Rule defined by the Federal Trade Commission. Part of this process involves providing potential buyers with important information on a car and its warranty that could help an on-the-fence car shopper come to a decision. Buying a set of wheels is a big commitment, and the Buyers Guide can remind you of some of the more important considerations to ponder before signing on the dotted line – things that inexperienced buyers may not have even thought of in the first place.
In addition to the make and model of the car in question, the Buyers Guide tells you procedural information such as whether the vehicle is covered by any warranty or being sold "as-is." If there are any warranties, you'll also have access to information about what they cover in terms of percentage of repair costs and specific automotive systems.
How can it help you?
As an invaluable resource to those shopping for used cars, the Buyers Guide should be a key stop on the road to car ownership. The warranty information it provides is crucial for drivers who want to keep themselves covered in the event any repairs are needed later.
More generally, the guide also provides helpful advice to those who may be new to the world of shopping for used cars. Aside from basic technical specs, consulting this information will yield such advice as the fact that verbal contracts are very difficult to enforce, and recommends that buyers seek out any agreements in writing. Another key suggestion is that you should submit a used car to a mechanic's inspection before deciding to buy to suss out any maintenance pitfalls.
As the official website of the FTC noted, dealers are required to display a Buyers Guide on any used cars that they sell, so make a point to seek out that sticker when you're on the lot.
When shopping for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. In addition to the hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, you'll also find an in-house finance team that can help make your high-quality used car, truck or van affordable.