Used car salesmen have gained a reputation for being unscrupulous. How many times have you heard the same ole adage… my wife drives a car just like this one… or this car belonged to a little old lady who barely drove it. The reality is most used car dealerships get their inventory from auctions. The dealers have never seen the previous owners. And about that “my wife drives a car just like this”… I am sure he’s made that very statement about every car on the lot.

Ok so they lie! But can you blame them? The guy has got to make a living. How else can he afford to buy his wife 32 different cars? Just don’t let them make their living by shafting you.

Before you go to the used car lot… inform yourself of the games the dealers play to rope you, know what to look for in a used car, and have an idea about how much the car should cost.

The games used car salesmen play

1 – They try to create a sense of urgency by saying things like… This is a good deal and it will not be here long. I have somebody else coming in at 4 to look at this same car. Don’t fall for this type of pressure. Even if it is true that someone else is interested in the car, you can probably find 5 more cars just like it for sale within a 10 mile radius.

2 – They act like as if they are doing you a favor by saying things like… My manager would be upset if he knew I let this car go for so low. Or… I can get you into this car for only $200 a month. But he fails to explain that the interest rates and payments terms are equivalent to that of a loan shark. Don’t think he is doing you a favor… he is in the business to make money, not friends.

3 – Don’t get sidetracked by fresh paint and shiny wheels. Of course he’s going to dress up the car. Who would want to buy something that had an unsightly presentation? But remember a lemon covered in a fancy gloss is still a lemon.

4 – The tricky does not stop once you have settled on a car prices. Read the terms of the contract and make sure it says the same thing that you agreed to verbally. And be wary of the add-ons. Even if you manage to get a good deal on the car… dealers like to persuade you into getting overpriced extras that you don’t need like scotch guard and rust coating.

What to look for in a used car

1 – Take a look under the hood. Does it look crutty? Check out the fluids. Is the oil black or honey brown? Black is not good. How does the transmission fluid look? How does it feel? The transmission fluid should be red and should feel smooth and not gritty. Do the belts and hoses look worn? All of these will give you an indication about how well the car was maintained.

2 – Look at the tires. Is there any thread left? And while you are down there looking at the wheels, look under the car? Is there anything leaking?

3 – Look in the interior. Use all the buttons to make sure they works. Does the radio come in? Do the windows roll down? Does the hood latch work? (I purchased a used car when I was in college. I thought it was a good deal, but I was duped. I let the dealer pop the latch so I can look under the hood. Well, a few weeks after I purchased the car I had to open the hood to fill the wiper fluid. And there was no latch! It was broken off. It took me nearly 3 days to figure out how to rig the car so I could open the hood.)

4 – And look at the gauges to make sure they are properly calibrated and functional.

5 – Jot down the VIN number and use it to get an AutoCheck or CarFax history report.

How much is the car really worth

Before you settle on a price, make sure that it is a fair price. Use reliable sources such as Edmund’s and Kelly’s Blue Book to estimate the market value.

Happy Car Hunting!