{"id":4117,"date":"2017-03-01T10:26:19","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T18:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/?p=4117"},"modified":"2025-03-27T08:09:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T15:09:38","slug":"how-to-buy-a-used-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/gearheads\/how-to-buy-a-used-car\/","title":{"rendered":"How to buy a used car"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Turo, we are focused on building the world\u2019s largest and most loved car sharing marketplace, and one of the most commonly asked questions we hear from car owners is \u201cWhat car do I buy?\u201d We\u2019ve previously written about <\/span>which cars perform well and where<\/span><\/a> on Turo to address those questions, and thought we\u2019d share a few tips on how to begin doing your homework if you wish to buy a used car.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mindset<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re reading this, chances are you have some idea of the kind of car you want, what your budget is, and may have even started looking for cars on eBay Motors, Craigslist, or local dealerships. But since buying a used car can sometimes be a process of elimination, starting with a specific list may not always be the best strategy. Adding too many constraints up front about the color, features, or even the make and model can drive you into a corner with no availability, as buying a used car is, often, a matter of the best option you can find.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having said that, there are some clear red flags to watch out for. You don\u2019t want to buy something heavily modified \u2014 cars which have been lowered or raised, for example, are worth avoiding as this may lead to unexpected wear of the tires, brakes and suspension over time. You also probably don\u2019t want to invest in cars that have been involved in accidents or have a salvage title. With some Japanese exceptions, most cars are designed to last for 100,000 miles or 10 years, so anything beyond that will require more maintenance and should be factored into your cost of ownership. <\/span><\/p>\n

Model year<\/span><\/h3>\n

It turns out that the year of the model you end up with is as important as the make and model. Let\u2019s say I\u2019m considering a Honda Accord. I\u2019d start by googling \u201ccommon problems with a Honda Accord\u201d, and one of the first few search results takes me to the graph below. Note how there is a surge in complaints for model years 2003 and 2008. Why did that happen? Let\u2019s dig in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Car manufacturers typically re-design a model from the ground up every five years or so, and then polish it in the years that follow. Think iPhone 6 and 6s. Honda introduced a new version of the Accord in 2003 and, being a new version, it came with some new problems. Honda refined it in the years that followed, which explains why the number of complaints trend lower from 2004 to 2007. You see the same pattern with a new model in 2008, which trends downwards till 2012 and then resets again in 2013. Would you pick a car with the color you want from 2008 or a car with a color you don\u2019t want from 2007? Armed with the knowledge that the 2008 model has a lot of reports for \u201cpremature brake wear\u201d, the answer can be fairly simple.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tools for history & price<\/span><\/h3>\n

Every vehicle in the US comes with a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which can be used to pull up a detailed history of the vehicle. <\/span>CARFAX<\/span> (who also <\/span><\/a>guest blogs for us occasionally)<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>AutoCheck<\/span><\/a> are popular sources for such a report \u2014 they\u2019re like a credit history for vehicles and don\u2019t reveal any personal information. Previous incidents, number of owners, maintenance records, etc. can reveal a lot about the car and will help you avoid potential lemons. Most dealerships will offer one for free, but don\u2019t hesitate to ask. If you\u2019re going the Craigslist route, it is totally worth paying for. There can be delays or omissions in reporting so while you can trust everything that is present on the report, it isn\u2019t guaranteed that everything will be present. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the topic of price, <\/span>Kelly Blue Book<\/span><\/a> is a great resource to estimate how much you should expect to pay for a used car from a private party or a dealership depending on its condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Test drives<\/span><\/h3>\n

In recent years, we\u2019ve started seeing some startups like Shift<\/a>, Carlypso<\/a>, and Fair\u00a0<\/span>change the way people buy cars online. Shift is an online dealership which will bring a used car to your doorstep for a test drive within a few hours. While they are not operational in all markets yet, it\u2019s exciting to see that going to dealerships may soon become a relic of the past. <\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also had a lot of people use Turo for test drives. If you have never lived with an SUV or a convertible, it\u2019s worth borrowing one over a weekend to do an extended test drive for a relatively small investment. Living with the car can tell you so much more about what you like or don\u2019t like, which can be hard to catch in the excitement and pressure of a short test drive at a local dealership.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do your homework, reap the benefits<\/span><\/h3>\n

To summarize, buying a used car can be a gamble but you could end up with a fantastic upgrade if you do your homework online to short-list the really great options. There is no substitute for test-driving a car and having a friend or mechanic go with you to verify the condition of the car before making your purchase. Finally, don\u2019t forget that most states in the US have a <\/span>lemon law<\/span><\/a> in case you need to return your car. Good luck!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Turo, we are focused on building the world\u2019s largest and most loved car sharing marketplace, and one of the most commonly asked questions we hear from car owners is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":4602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,72],"tags":[98,219],"class_list":["post-4117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gearheads","category-insights","tag-owner-tips","tag-under-the-hood"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t