How To Negotiate A Great Deal when Buying a Used Car

Negotiating a Good Used Car, Used Truck or Used SUV Deal is the same as negotiating a New Car Deal! The very same tactics and strategies I discuss in "How To Get a Great Deal on a New Car" and "The Anatomy of a Good Car Deal" apply here.
Research used car values at Yahoo! Autos . Then figure on settling on a price somewhere between retail and trade-in allowance. If it is a very clean low mileage vehicle, or a unique and pristine vehicle, the dealer will hold out for top retail or more, and if he doesn't get it from you he'll wait until the right buyer comes along!
The problem with a used vehicle is that you have no way of knowing for sure how much the dealer has invested in it! You can only guess! A good rule of thumb is to take the average trade-in value and add about $1000 for reconditioning, transportation and other costs associated with a car dealer buying a used car for resale. This should at least give you a "ballpark figure" to go on!
Make your initial offer $500 over this amount and go from there. Keep in mind that in most cases the salesperson has no authority to make the final decision on an offer. It's usually the Sales Manager's call, so don't be afraid to send the salesperson into the manager with a low offer.
One more Very Important point! You should never buy any used vehicle without first doing a very extensive test drive, getting a Free CARFAX Record Check, and having a trustworthy mechanic look it over - on a lift - very carefully!
For more tips on buying or trading a used vehicle visit the Used Car Guide!
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BEWARE of Making a Very Costly Mistake!
Millions of previously owned vehicles have many costly hidden problems. Some need very expensive mechanical repairs, while others may have been damaged or even Declared a Total Loss in a wreck, or damaged in a storm or by floods. Still others may have been repurchased from their original owner by the manufacturer as a "Lemon," only to eventually find it's way back out into the marketplace! (Thats Right! The car manufacturers sell "Buy Backs" or "Lemons" right back to the car dealers at auction!)
So, what's a poor unsuspecting car buyer to do? Well, before you finalize any used car purchase, get a Free CARFAX Record Check!
UPDATE...
The CARFAX Buyback Guarantee!
With the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee, CARFAX will buy a vehicle back from you if there was a severe problem reported by a DMV that was not included in the CARFAX Report.
These are the big problems you really need to worry about:
Major Accidents
Fire Damage
Flood Damage
Major Odometer Problems
Lemon HistoryThese are the main things that can significantly affect the value and safety of a used vehicle.
If your CARFAX Report fails to notify you of any of the above problems, and you go ahead and buy the vehicle, CARFAX will buy the vehicle back from you. All you have to do is cash the check and get another car - CARFAX will even arrange to have the buyback vehicle picked up!
By finding out the FULL History of a used vehicle, you can avoid purchasing cars with serious problems, and you can confirm that the car in question has a Clean Background for your own peace of mind! Read what one satisfied CARFAX user has to say:
"CARFAX gave me the confidence to buy a car from a dealer or a private party. The report had a lot of information which helped me make my decision. I saved myself from many salvaged cars with the help of CARFAX. My advice to friends who want to buy a car is...CARFAX. It is a great service and keep doing the good job."Narayanan LakshmananRedlands, CA
Get Your Free CARFAX Record Check Now!
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