So you are in the market to buy a vehicle, but you know it is a daunting purchase, and you don’t want to make any rash decisions. Buying a used car in Calgary doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. You can walk away confident in your purchase, knowing you saved money with the right tools. If you check this list before spending an afternoon at the car dealers in Calgary, you will feel more confident in your decision and know you saved money in a few areas.

1. Do your research.

Before you even step foot inside a Calgary car dealership, have an idea of what you would like. Without having some sort of idea, the options can be overwhelming. Even if you don’t know the make and model of what you want, make a list of the needs and wants you are looking for. If you are a soccer mom with five kids, then a Tesla will probably not be a good fit! Sometimes your priorities can be obscured by something shiny and new. So know what you need vs. want before you leave the house.

2. Take it for a drive.

So you pick out the vehicle you think you would like, but make sure you take it around more than the block. You want to get a feel for it and see if you could imagine yourself taking a road trip in that seat or communicating to and from work. Does it shift nicely? How do the tires and suspension feel? Even if you have no idea what that means, you can get a general feel of the car once you are behind the wheel.

3. Negotiating.

 This part of the process often makes people feel uncomfortable. If a salesperson asks how much you want to pay a month, focus instead on the vehicle’s overall cost. The reason for this is once they know how much you are willing to pay, they might adjust the amount of your trade in to make up for a deal they give you on the new purchase, so in the end, your great deal isn’t so great after all. If you plan on leasing, don’t bring that up until after the price has been negotiated.

4. Have an appraisal done on your trade-in vehicle.

 If you don’t know what your trade-in vehicle is worth, you will be much more likely to go along with whatever price they offer you. The salespeople aren’t there to give you top dollar for your vehicle. They want you to pay them, so they will provide you with the lowest dollar they can get away with. Have the details handy for backup to show them. Also, knowing what will add value to your trade-in vs. spending that money towards a new vehicle. Replacing the wipers and topping up the fluids isn’t adding that much value, so save those dollars.

5. Talk to your insurance company before purchasing.

Since you should have a general idea of what you are looking for. Know before you go, so there are no hidden surprise costs later on down the road. The dealer will often provide things such as an auto history report when they are asked, but it isn’t usually offered. If you aren’t asking upfront, you could be stuck with this bill down the road if your insurance company requests it.

Purchasing a vehicle doesn’t have to be scary, and the staff at Double L Motors look forward to being a part of your next used car dealership purchase in Calgary.