How to Buy a Used Car Trade-in

Used car trade-ins can be a great bargain for buyers. Generally, cars bought from a car dealership have been thoroughly inspected before the dealership bought them, so you aren't likely to end up with a salvage title or a lemon. They have been maintained well while in the dealership's care and may have even had small dents and scratches repaired so that you won't have to make those repairs yourself. Additionally, many car dealerships offer the option to buy a warranty for used cars, which can save a lot of money and a lot of hassle in the long run.

Instructions

Buy a Used Car Trade-in Through CarMax

1

Visit CarMax's website and browse its used cars by make, miles per gallon, type and features.

2

Enter your zip code, the search radius you'd like to see cars in (with CarMax, many cars can be transferred to a location near you free of charge or at a low cost to you) and hit "Submit."

3

Browse through the cars until you find one you're interested in.

4

Get more information about the car and the purchasing process by having a dealer contact you through the "Request More Information" link on the right-hand side under "Take the next step" or call the dealership where the car is located by calling the phone number listed under "Interested?" in the upper-right hand corner of the website.

5

Arrange to have the car transferred to your location, if necessary.

6

Review the full vehicle history report provided by the CarMax sales representative. Note any collisions on the report, and don't buy any car that has been in a severe accident. CarMax doesn't sell cars that have been branded as salvaged or have had flood damage or frame damage, so you are unlikely to find any major collisions on the vehicle history report.

7

Set up a test drive with a sales representative.

8

Take the test drive. If you like the car and how it handles, let the sales representative know that you would like to purchase it. The price listed on the website and on the car is the price that you will receive the car for, as CarMax has a no-haggle policy.

9

Discuss financing options with the CarMax representative, if necessary.

10

Fill out the forms that the CarMax sales representative provides you with and return the forms to him or her, along with the down payment or full payment as previously negotiated. The car is yours once this is all completed.

11

Have the car inspected within 5 days of purchasing it. If your mechanic finds anything wrong with the car, CarMax offers a 5-day money-back guarantee that allows you to return the car for any reason within a 5-day period. If there is something wrong with any of the parts covered under CarMax's limited warranty, they will repair or replace those parts.

Buy a Used Car Trade-in Through a Dealership

12

Contact local car diagnostic services to compare their prices and the time that each one takes to inspect the car. Once you find a diagnostic service that has reasonable prices and can inspect the car quickly, make sure that they are open and available during the hours that you will be test-driving cars.

13

Visit local dealerships, asking sales representatives to show you their trade-in cars.

14

Set up a test drive with a sales representative once you find a trade-in car that fits your budget and that you like. Ask the sales representative if you can take the car to the car diagnostic service to have it inspected.

15

Drive the car to the car diagnostic service and have an inspection performed on the car. The car inspector will give you a report of any necessary repairs and a cost estimate for the repairs.

16

Let the sales representative know that you would like to purchase the car, if you like the way the car handles and the inspection comes out satisfactory.

17

Discuss financing options with the sales representative, if necessary.

18

Fill out the forms that the sales representative provides you with and return the forms to him or her, along with the down payment or full payment as previously negotiated. The car is yours once this is all completed.