Buying a used car can be a tedious and frustrating experience. Used cars come with many unknowns, such as whether the car will last, if it have any previous accidents, and if you’re paying too much for the vehicle. So what’s a buyer to do? The best way is to read up on some negotiation tips. In this post we’ll share 3 negotiating tips that should help ease your worries about buying that used cars in sacramento you’ve had your eye on.
- Research the market.
Never walk into a negotiation blind. Research the market and look for similar cars in the price range you’re considering to get an idea of what you should pay. Many people don’t do this and they end up paying too much for a car without even realizing it.
This is especially important if you’re buying a used car at tag sale or another similar event where you aren’t able to test-drive the vehicle or negotiate with the seller beforehand. In that situation, take your time, be patient and make sure to research prices before buying anything else!
- Educate yourself on common scams and tactics used by sellers.
What’s the first thing a used car salesperson will do once you walk into a dealership? Try and sell you an extended warranty of course! For those who aren’t familiar with the term, an extended warranty is essentially insurance against expensive mechanical failures and other issues.
The seller is banking on your lack of knowledge to sell you what is essentially useless insurance. In most cases, if your car breaks down within the first few years of ownership it will be covered under your warranty anyway.
This isn’t only limited to used cars either. These types of tactics are widespread outside of automobile sales as well. From a simple sales pitch to a misleading business card, be aware of these tactics and avoid them.
- Never pay the asking price.
If you’re going to buy a used car you should already know that the asking price is simply an opening offer. The seller may or may not actually want to get that amount for their vehicle, but it’s the first number they will throw out there simply because it’s easier than honing in on your ideal price point.
Think of this as a negotiation tactic and take advantage of it by playing hardball yourself. This can be done one of two ways: Start high and negotiate down or start lower and negotiate up.