Tips on buying a used car

Those on the market for a car and looking for an affordable option may want to consider buying pre-owned or used.

Isaiah Wenig, a sales manager at Washington Auto Center, said one of the biggest advantages in buying a secondhand car is affordability and total cost.

'You're not having to commit to a five or six year loan if you can afford to pay cash for something cheaper, or even a two to three year loan,” Wenig said.

But with a price reduction can come a level of risk. Knowing what to check for and how to make sure a car is in good condition can take a trained eye.

Wenig, who often attends car auctions across the country, said his top priority when considering a purchase is the overall condition of the car.

'I check the body, make sure the seats aren't torn up and the carpet is not destroyed. If it's well taken care of, overall the car will have a better life span. If the exterior is all dinged-up and the interior is reached out, you can tell the previous owner didn't care for it and probably assume they didn't do things like change the oil or other maintenance,” Wenig said.

Clint Keller, a service adviser for Bob's Automotive in Fairfield, said the number one thing people (who aren't car-purchasing experts) can do to make sure they're making a good investment is to get their vehicle inspected by a local shop, especially when making purchases from online platforms.

'I would say spend a little bit of money to get it checked out. That peace of mind is worth so much, in my opinion. I can't stress it enough,” Keller said. Automotive repair shops have tools to easily complete an inspection and can check internal components that wouldn't be accessible otherwise, he added.

Other accessible information such as reports on history and previous ownership can give clues to how well a car has been taken care of.

Wenig said it could be especially helpful to look at vehicle maintenance and history reports. If a Carfax is available, buyers are able to see how many previous owners a car has had as well as any accidents that have been registered with the DMV.

The sales manager added that in his experience, cars that have been repossessed end up being in worse shape than others.

'Generally, people know the banks are going to take it so they're not going to take care of it,” Wenig said.

In terms of red flags, Wenig also said cars that have a flood warning are a no-go for him.

'It may run and look OK, but if it's been under water there's probably going to be issues with rusting and corroding down the road,” Wenig said.

In addition to checking reports, Keller suggested for buyers to take cars for a test drive, which can be an easy way to identify any internal issues a vehicle may have.

'When driving, listen for any noises. Turn off the radio, the heater and AC. Listen for growls or grinding noises and make sure to use the brakes, both hard and soft and check for shakes,” Keller suggested. He also added people should take note of a car's tires, checking the tread and looking for signs of weathering and cracks.

Buyers can also check the underside of the car for excessive rust, as well as fluids under the hood including engine oil and antifreeze.

'For engine oil, there's a dipstick and it should be a good, nice golden color,” Keller said.

While most people tend to focus on mileage, both Keller and Wenig said a higher mile count is not necessarily indicative of worse condition.

Wenig doesn't generally get too concerned about a higher number, especially if he knows the car has mostly been driving on highways.

'Highway miles are not as big a deal as say, a post office car, which is stopping and going in the city all the time. It wears out brakes and bearings and joints a lot quicker. But mileage does make a difference on price,” he explained.

Keller added that cars are made to last much longer now than they used to.

'Personally, I'm not scared of cars with 100,000 miles. There's always more risk with higher miles, but if good maintenance is involved, it's always better,” he added.