How to Buy a Used Pickup Truck

Purchasing a used vehicle is a necessity for some people and a personal choice for others. Used vehicles in good working order can be a better investment as new vehicles depreciate the minute they are driven from the dealer's car lot. Buying a used pickup truck involves deciding which makes and models you prefer and determining the amount of money that you can afford to spend. Paying attention to the exterior, interior and engine condition of a used pickup is essential in making the right buying decision.

Instructions

1

Determine how much money you have available to spend on a used pickup truck. If you are planning on financing a portion or the entire amount, get preapproval from a lender for an amount for which you qualify. Write the figure down and use that as the maximum amount to spend.

2

Make a list of the makes and models of pickup trucks of choice. Look at the average selling price of used pickup trucks by checking prices through Kelley Blue Book, the industry guide for pricing used vehicles (see Resources).

3

Contact used car dealers in the local area to inquire about used pickup trucks for sale. Let the salesperson know the makes and models of interest. Do not give the salesperson the maximum amount to spend to avoid having pricing altered in advance of looking at the vehicles. Schedule an appointment to stop by the dealer if they have pickup trucks for sale that meet criteria. Do not make final decisions during an initial visit.

4

Read local newspapers and look for used pickup trucks for sale in the classified section. Call and talk to sellers of pickup trucks of interest to you. Review and test-drive vehicles, but do not make any decisions on the spot. Ask questions about the vehicle's maintenance history, repair history and overall working condition of the truck

5

Get vehicle history reports for the top three pickup trucks seen and test-driven. Use a service such as CarFax to verify clean title of the vehicle and that all damage and major repairs to the pickup truck were disclosed by the seller.

6

Make a final decision based on the experience test driving the vehicle, the final price negotiated, the vehicle's history and the overall condition of the pickup truck.