Where to Find and Buy a Reliable Used Car

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The price of cars is out of control, and I know this because I once bought a five-year-old car for $5,000, and it had less than 34,000 miles on it. The car had so few miles, it came with an implied warranty. Those days seem to be gone, but you can still find a reliable used car for an affordable price.

The Search Features

Most used car website allow you to set filters, and doing so is beneficial to your search. By using the appropriate filters, you can find the best deal for yourself.

To begin with, when you search for a used car, search for vehicles with under 100,000 miles, preferably under 70,000. You don’t want a vehicle with too many miles. Anything over 120,000 is overly risky.

You can also choose the distance you’re willing to travel for a car. In big cities like Chicago, some of the best car deals come from the surrounding suburbs and states. Chicago is relatively close to Indiana as an example, and cities within Indiana typically have lower used car prices than Chicago. Leverage this feature.

On top of that, many used car websites notify you of damage. If you see “rebranded title” avoid it. That means the car was once in a wreck so bad, it was determined totaled. There could still be underlying damage that isn’t obvious. If you don’t see pictures, don’t waste your energy.

Also, this article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the “sort” feature. This allows you to see the cars in a specific order based on what you choose. You can sort by price, distance, miles or other variables. I suggest sorting by price and seeing what you get. But do what works best for you. Whatever you do, be careful of where you buy cars.

The Best Used Car Sources

You might see a “For Sale” sign in the window of a vehicle that’s been parked in the gas station for a month. You might notice a “car for sale” sitting in a driveway. The price might even seem reasonable. Don’t do it. There are better options.

The Good

CarFax is a used car website I recommend highly to my family and friends because I’ve used it and had great results. As a reputable website founded over forty years ago in 1984, CarFax is connected throughout the car industry. Not only can you find cars, but you can get their history as well. This makes the car buying process less frustrating and easier to navigate. CarFax has something for every budget, and that makes it the top pick.

Additionally, not to be confused with CarFax, CarMax was founded in 1993, over thirty years ago. Although the cars on this website tend to be pricier, CarMax’s reputation of being responsive to buyers makes it worth it. Its search features are easy to engage, and the vehicles are appealing. For a person wanting a vehicle that is aesthetically pleasing, this is the site.

Carvana has become a well-known player in the used car industry. The reason is because of its simplicity in delivering vehicles. While CarFax is good for finding a place to go and buy a used car in person, everything can be done from your phone with Carvana. Yes. Carvana will deliver your vehicle, albeit with a fee. But that fee is waived if it is picked up from a location of theirs.

Overall, CarFax and CarMax are the best options for buying a used car at an affordable price right now.

The Bad

Apps such as Facebook offer marketplaces, where users can buy and sell products among one another. While this is good for small items like video games or clothes, it is usually the opposite for large, important purchases like vehicles.

There are examples where users of Facebook say they were scammed in a car-buying transaction. One man claims he was ripped off in the app’s marketplace after buying about seven cars. For anybody still looking to purchase a vehicle through Facebook, PrivateAuto.com has listed 5 things you should know before buying a car from Facebook marketplace. Read it.

Generally, I would suggest avoiding online marketplaces because they can be extremely risky. Depending on an app’s policies, a person might not get their money back. However, by doing your own research and due diligence, you can reduce your chances of being scammed.

The Takeaway

Finding a reasonably priced used car is more difficult today than it was ten years ago, but it is possible. Start with CarFax or CarMax, and see where they take you. Or start with another reputable site, but avoid marketplaces on apps. They are risky. If you must shop using one, be careful, and do your own research and due diligence. You’ll be back on the road and taking care of business in no time.

FOLLOW the author and educator Jermaine Reed, MFA on X @Jermaine Reed, MFA for his controversial but real hot takes.