A used car, wisely bought, is a much better value than a new one. More car for the money, less depreciation, lower payments, etc. But remember: we said "wisely bought".
What to buy
First you'll want to spend some time reviewing our Auto Library publications, found in each of our four offices. Here you can learn which cars are safe, which have good resale values and maintenance histories, and what cars are similar in size and features so you can develop a list of several to shop for. Only then should you head to the dealerships.
What to pay
Now lets say you've found a used vehicle that meets your needs. You'll need to know the retail value of that vehicle, and we can help with that too. It's not the asking price the dealer hopes you'll pay, but almost always less. Let our staff give you the NADA used car value as your guide. If you're shopping for used, call or visit any of our four office locations for a free NADA used car price valuation. This will provide you with an accurate trade-in or wholesale value, as well as a retail value.
Dealers generally want to buy a vehicle for wholesale and sell it at retail - so that difference is the expected profit margin. Now you know about what the dealer has invested in that used vehicle, and again - you can start from dealer cost and negotiate up.
Protect yourself
Finally, before you purchase a used vehicle, contact the credit union to get a Carfax Vehicle History Report. Carfax has over 900 Million vehicle records in its database to tell you if the car has been totaled, damaged in a flood, or had the odometer rolled back. All you need is the 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number found on the dash as you look through the windshield.
Carfax reports are free to members who finance with the credit union. It's the ultimate in peace of mind when buying used. Just call or stop by any of our office locations.
