Five Helpful Tips When Looking For a Good Used Car in Canada

If you are on the market for a good used car in Canada, you may want to use all of the available resources that can help you get the best deal and buy from a reputable dealer. This helps you avoid any costly mistakes like paying too much for a used car or getting stuck with a model that has problems that can cause headaches for you later on. Here are five helpful tips when looking for a good used car in Canada that will prevent you from going down that road.

Decide what kind of vehicle will best suit your needs

When you are looking for a used vehicle, you are probably looking for a vehicle that will meet the needs of the main people who will be driving the vehicle, plus the road and weather conditions in Canada. It's better to determine what type of vehicle, such as a compact or an SUV, you need to suit your needs before you ever step foot on a dealer's lot. Things like safety features, anti-theft devices, sound systems and fuel usage are important characteristics of the car you will buy since you will probably own that car for several years after purchasing it.

Create a used car budget and stick to it

Once you have determined what type of vehicle you plan to purchase, you can do a quick search online to determine the approximate value range of the size and type of car you want. That should give you a fairly good idea what kind of budget you have to work with and how much you may need to borrow to get the used car of your dreams. Be careful when you go start going to dealerships because they will always try to get you to go above your budget - when asked it's always best to state your budget lower than your actual budget will be.

Get references and research dealerships

Now's the time to start asking around to family and friends to see what dealerships they've purchased used cars from and from whom they've had the best success. Be sure and let the dealerships know that you were referred to them by previous buyers and see if they offer any incentives for you to buy from them as well - a good dealership will do that. It's ok to check with your local commerce department to see if they've had any complaints about specific places so that you can avoid them when going through the buying process.

Check the car's background

Once you've had the opportunity to test drive several vehicles in the type and budget that you are looking for, you can jot down the vehicle identification number and check it through the department of motor vehicles or an online service like Carfax to determine if the vehicle has ever been reported stolen, in accidents, used as a rental car, involved in a natural disaster (eg. flood, hurricane) and what it rates as far as emissions if you are concerned about the environmental impact. If the car comes up with something negative that isn't revealed in the car's paperwork, bring it to the dealer's attention and then move on to another dealer - since they run these reports on all vehicles they may be trying to mislead people by not providing that information.

Get the car inspected by a trusted mechanic

Lastly, before you decide to sign the paperwork and buy the car you've chosen, have it looked at by a certified and trusted mechanic not affiliated with the dealership. You can even take it to a friend who has mechanical knowledge and ask them to go with you on a test drive to pick up any strange noises or problems with performance. This is a good way to avoid having to visit a mechanic too often after you make your purchase.

Buying a used car in Canada can be a good experience if you are smart and follow the steps above. Once you find that perfect car, the extra time you took to research it will be worth it in the long run.