In our first and second article, we began discussing how to get the best value for what you pay for a used car. We touched on defining your needs, taking mileage into consideration, doing your research, and acquiring a report for your vehicle.

For our next tip, we suggest you be very mindful when doing the paperwork. Be sure to read all the papers carefully, even the fine print. You want to make sure you understand all your rights, what you are entitled to, and what you are not. Make sure you understand the details of your warranty, if there is one. Don’t take the salesman’s promises by word, make sure everything he or she says is in writing. As a final precaution, some dealers will let you take the car to your mechanic to have it looked over. If you can afford it, we highly recommend this. If you have a decent mechanic, he will be able to tell you if the car is worth what you are paying for it, and any possible problems in the future.

The next thing to consider is the cost of keeping the vehicle on the road. If you buy a newer used car, you probably wont have to pay for too much maintenance, however insurance is going to be much higher. Likewise if you buy an older used car, insurance will be very cheap, however maintenance may be a monthly cost. Once again, go back to what you need for a vehicle, then compare it with what you can afford. Balance the two out, and you have found yourself a valuable used car in New Jersey.

Topics New Jersey, used car, Value

In our previous article, we gave a few tips for finding a used car at a good value in New Jersey. We discussed the importance of knowing exactly what you need, and how old, or how many miles on the vehicle you should aim for. In this article we plan to expand on what we learned, giving you more tips to help you in your used car purchase.


For our next tip, do your research. We almost guarantee if you walk into the dealership not knowing what you want, you are going to walk out with something you are not happy with. Why? Because you didn’t know what you were buying. There are plenty of tools available to used car buyers near everywhere you go. Read consumer reports, reviews, look at gas consumption statistics, research maintainable and upkeep costs, ask friends and colleges. Keep only a few models in mind when going, and if you can, test drive two of the same model. What this does is makes it easier to identify a potential problem with the car, allowing you to pick the better of the two cars on the lot.


Next, be sure to check your cars history report. This will tell you if it has ever been restored, repaired, in an accident, has had flood damage. It will also tell you if it was an ex-rental (which means it was most likely heavily abused), or if it has had its odometer rolled back at any point. All you need is the vehicles VIN number.


Hopefully these tips will help you out a bit when purchasing a used car in New Jersey, or anywhere in the world. Next time we will have even more tips for you, so check back often!

Topics New Jersey, Pricing, used car, Value

When you are out looking for a used car in New Jersey, never go picking up the cheapest one you can find, that is, if you want to get any life out of it. Likewise, buying the most expensive car on the lot does not guarantee a good value for your money. A skillful buyer can balance the equation, finding a car that is both low and price, and at a good value. But how do you do this?


First, consider what your needs are. A simple sedan will get you to and from work just fine. If you want to save gas money, get one with a 4-cylinder engine. Maybe you need to tow something, thus a truck with a powerful engine will be in order. If you have a lot of kids, or plan on having them, perhaps you should consider a minivan or full size conversion van. Make sure you know what you need before you go on the lot.


Next consider the mileage of the vehicle. We do not recommend buying a car with over 150,000 miles on it, especially if it has all stock parts on it. Just because it has less miles on it, does not mean it’s better. The used car may have been in an accident, hence the lower price. We can’t tell you a specific millage to go for, however if you plan on driving the car for more than five years, try to stay in the 60,000 to 80,000 mile range.


Obviously there are more things you are going to want to check out, but this gives you a few tips to work with. New Jersey has plenty of used cars to choose from, so take your time and do your research. Your car is out there, you just need to find it.

Topics New Jersey, Pricing, used car, Value