Would you be surprised to know that, according to AAA Newsroom, the average car costs more than $9,000 a year to own? Fuel, repairs, maintenance — what seems like little instances here and there of having to open up your wallet quickly add up to a huge annual cost which many can ill afford.
What many don’t realize is that by being smarter when shopping at their local car dealerships, they can often find deals that will drastically reduce those huge maintenance costs. If you’re just about to go used car shopping, here are just a few of the things you should keep in mind to save yourself money in the long run.
What to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Used Cars to Keep Maintenance Costs Low
- Pre Owned Cars Should Still Have Warranties
- Look for Lifetime Maintenance Deals
- You Need to Do Your Own Inspections
One of the first things you should look for when buying a car to keep costs low when it comes to servicing your car is a warranty. As Daily Finance points out, many people make the mistake of thinking it’s completely normal for secondhand cars to come without a warranty. Ask yourself this, though: why isn’t a warranty included? What invalidated the warranty?
If you really want to save money on servicing your car and you can afford to be patient, Edmunds recommends waiting for one of those “free lifetime oil change” deals that come around every so often. As the name of the deal implies, buying qualifying cars from dealers during the sale window will net you lifetime oil changes. More often than not, they also include tire rotations and a new air filter. You’re easily talking about savings of $100 or more a year here.
99.9% of used car dealerships are honest operations. They want to help their customers find great deals, and they want to make money doing it. That’s how every business works. However, as ConsumerReports.org details, there are plenty of dealers out there looking to make big bucks on crappy cars. That’s why you need to be sure to inspect each car you’re considering for yourself. Get under the car, and check to see if the chassis is rusted over. Are there any fresh or off-color paint spots on the car? It might seem like paranoia, but keep in mind that this can save you from having to pay big bucks for servicing your car the second after you drive it off the lot.
Do you run a used car dealership? What are some of the things you recommend to customers to keep their maintenance costs low? Share your expert opinion in the comments below. Helpful info also found here: hudiburgnissan.com