5 Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

When you’re ready to give your Littleton, Parker, and Castle Rock, CO, travels an upgrade, purchasing a used ride has exactly what you’re looking for. Purchasing a used car offers you the flexibility to find the make, model, and features you need to give your commute the upgrade you’re looking for.

Before purchasing a used car, there’s a handful of questions you should ask to ensure the vehicle you’re eyeing up is right for you. To help you learn more, we at McDonald Volkswagen have created this list of five questions to ask when buying a used car. Let’s get started!

1) What Features Do I Want?

Before you can start browsing our used car selection, you must decide which features you want on your new-to-you ride.

Are you purchasing this used ride because your family is growing? Are you looking for access to some of the latest entertainment and safety features? Making a list of all the features you want to have in your next vehicle is the first question you should ask when buying a used car.

2) Do I Want to Buy Used or Certified Pre-Owned?

Next, you need to decide what type of used car you’re going to purchase: used or certified pre-owned.

Certified pre-owned vehicles are like used cars because both have been previously owned by other individuals. The difference with certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles is that they match a specific set of guidelines set by the manufacturer.

Some of these guidelines include a model year requirement, not having more than a set number of miles on the car, and passing a rigorous multi-point inspection.

3) Does the Vehicle Come With a CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™?

Once you’ve found a vehicle or two you like, learning more about their history is essential. Thankfully, a complimentary CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ is included with many used car purchases.

These reports include vital information about the car’s past. After reading through the report, you’ll learn more about:

• The number of previous drivers
• Maintenance history
• Accident history, if applicable
• Title history
• And more

4) Is There Any Warranty Left on the Vehicle?

Many models come with a warranty. Depending on the age of the used car you’re looking at, it may still be under warranty.

Asking if the vehicle is still under warranty or if the dealership offers warranty coverage for used vehicles is always a helpful question to ask.

5) Can I Take It for a Test Drive?

When you’re purchasing a vehicle, you should always take it for a test drive.

Test drives are a great way to experience the car first-hand. Some of the things you want to check out when driving include:

• If the seat and mirrors adjust to your liking
• How it handles residential and highway roads
• If the overall feel of the car matches what you’re looking for
• If there’s enough room for passengers and travel gear