Buying a used car can be a daunting task, and there are many different websites and articles out there that can help you make the right decisions on which cars to look at and how to get the best deals. Hopefully this article can provide you with some additional car buying tips and resources that you may not have considered, or that the other guys overlooked. No matter how much research you’ve already done, additional car buying tips and resources can never hurt, and you just might find a diamond in the rough that really turns the tides in your favor when dealing with the ever stressful car buying experience.

Assuming you are looking to buy a used car, have you looked at all the different offerings from the various used car dealerships? Many people get stuck buying from one dealership out of some sense of loyalty and, while this is admirable, it is not likely to get you a better car for a better price. True, sometimes there are buyer loyalty discounts where the manufacturer will give you a rebate because you have bought their cars previously, but often these discounts negate any other incentive you would have otherwise received. In some rare cases, you may end up actually paying more with a loyalty discount than you would have had you instead taken the same rebates offered everyone else. Also, if you are willing to buy another car from the same brand, odds are pretty good that the last car lasted for a while. Most car companies change the majority of their lineup every five to seven years, so if you have not visited the competition in a while, you owe it to yourself to see what they can offer you. For instance, if you need a good sized car but can only afford a compact, one manufacturer’s compact could actually be quite a bit larger than the others. Japanese models, for instance, have had a tendency to grow over the last twenty or so years. What was a compact in the 80′s may be a mid-size model today but still compete at the compact car price. You really never know until you go look and drive.

Another thing to consider, especially after you have driven a few used cars and looked at the sticker prices and contemplated making that monthly note for five, six, or even seven years, is this — do you really need a used car? Step back and actually consider your financial situation, and whatever you do, don’t buy the car in the same visit as when you drove it. Consider that, in three years, the car will no longer be used but the payment will be no less and the car’s value will have most certainly dropped considerably. Compare that to a used car that may be paid off in three years and have lost little of its value. Granted, nothing compares to the safety and security of a used car warranty, but if you are smart with your money, you can likely put what you save, by buying used, into a bank account and gain interest on it until your car does need repairs. Also, don’t forget that you can get warranties on used cars, too.