Used Car Shopping for Teens

For most teens, money is tight and a used car is the only option available. Although some parents may be willing to chip in, buying a first car can be a valuable life lesson in saving, shopping, and financial responsibility. Here are some of the things you should look out for when looking for a used car:

Consider a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle: Many automakers now offer a program where you can buy a used car that goes through a multi-point dealer inspection before being offered for sale. Typically, these vehicles are former lease cars. You may be able to find a good deal. However, many of these cars may be only a few years old and out of the price range of most young drivers.

Ask a Lot of Questions: This is true of any seller you are considering buying from, even if you are planning on buying a car private sale rather than through a dealer. Ask about the vehicle’s maintenance record and history, mileage, accident and ownership history, features, benefits, and asking price. Be careful, sometimes sellers are not always upfront about a car’s history or problems. Make sure you bring an experienced car buyer with you when it comes time to test drive.

Know Your Budget: Set you price limit before you talk to the seller. Remember that even after buying the car you will still have to spend money on things like insurance and registration fees.

Be Prepared to Negotiate: This is when having an experienced car buyer with you can really help. There may be some issues that may make a lower than “asking price” fair. You may not know any of this until you see the car in person, so be prepared to pay for the vehicle in front of you, not with the basic sales pitch presented in a classified ad. Don’t be anxious. It’s best to remain calm and pay what’s fair, even if you think the car of your dreams may slip away from you if you don’t pay what the seller asks.

Inspect the Entire Vehicle: Again, it is wise to bring an experienced driver with you when you do this and conduct the inspection during daylight hours only. Make sure everything is in proper order and functioning the way you expect it to. This includes tires, engine, body, and even the trunk! You may also want to bring the car to a mechanic for a complete inspection. Keep in mind that this will cost money; be sure that you are really interested in the car before you do this.

Take the Car for a Test Drive: This may be the most important thing; the way a car works is even more important than how it looks. Start the engine to make sure it starts properly and smoothly. Starting is often a good indication of engine wear and tear. Next, make sure you take the car out on a variety of surfaces. Also try to take the car out on a freeway. Even if you can only do this briefly, you will need to get an idea of how the car runs at higher speeds. Don’t forget to try parking the car too. Some cars don’t feature great visibility in parking situations. This is bad news for new drivers.

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