Used Cars In Cincinnati

These tactics, when paired with a solid plan and follow through, could literally save you thousands of dollars when purchasing your next vehicle.

How to Save Money When Buying Used Cars in the Cincinnati Area

Since I approach buying a used car differently from buying new, I’d like to separate the two when discussing different strategies while trying to look for the best deal. Over the years there are a few tricks I’ve learned when buying a used car or SUV.

These tactics, when paired with a solid plan and follow through, could literally save you thousands of dollars when purchasing your next vehicle.

For a quick reference, with the last SUV I bought, I was able to negotiate a 30% discount off the sticker price. Not bad.

Before we start, I’d like to mention that I’ve worked in sales and marketing before, so dealing with car salesmen doesn’t bother me in the least. You want to stay relaxed and maintain a positive, confident attitude. If you don’t feel comfortable with an approaching salesperson, ask them to give you some time to look around.

Take your time; a car is a big investment and you need to make sure you find the one that suits your needs and fits your budget.

Here are 3 quick tips to getting the best deal on a used car in Cincinnati:

1. Research

With all of the tools at our disposal today, there is no excuse to not be prepared when going to look for a used car. Obviously, I am going to recommend the internet as a great starting point for your research.

Search around for the going prices of the make and models you’re interested in the surrounding Greater Cincinnati area. Print them out, write them down, or save them on your cell phone, both pictures and prices. Here’s the Kelly Blue Book.

Also, write down your absolute must haves in a car, while making a separate column for you wish list items. Now you might have your mind set on a certain make or model, or even color of a car. It’s a good starting point, but remember, if you have never driven the car before you could be setting yourself up for a letdown. What if the vehicle isn’t comfortable, or provide a smooth driving experience? You need to remain at least somewhat open-minded to other options.

Again, be prepared. Do you know how many people I’ve seen car shopping with a notebook or folder on them? Almost none, and I think it’s a huge mistake. Here’s a sample worksheet to start with.

2. Be flexible with your options, and rigid with your budget.

Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have the car of your dreams for full price, or your attractive second choice with a huge discount?

Only you know your budget and can answer that question, but I’ve literally been in those situations before and it’s nice to have a both options open, at least in my mind. Regardless, the first thing is to know your budget and the second thing is to STICK TO IT!

Now when I say “budget,” I’m absolutely allowing for all items on my “must haves” list, along with a few of the “wish list” items. Also, it’s important to remember to account for all applicable fees and taxes as well. So, I do give myself a bit of a cushion, but my top number is my top. If I can’t find the right used car or SUV to fit within that budget, then I’ll wait and try another day.

This leads me to another quick point. Try and car shop when it’s convenient for yourself rather than having your back against a wall. You’ll never get the best deal when bargaining from a “desperate” position. Here’s another tool to help prepare for negotiations.

3. Buddy Up

This one might be more difficult for some to manage, but if you can pull it off, it really allows for some interesting negotiations to say the least.

If you are single or if your better half despises negotiations, then see if you can persuade a friend to go along for the “ride.” Try to find a friend that is particularly picky, and/or exceptional with numbers. If he is in sales that could help as well.

What you want him to do, is be the critic or skeptic through the entire process. Before you or the salesperson gets too carried away with how great the car, SUV or the deal is, you need your friend to throw a little cold water on the situation to bring everybody back down from the clouds so to speak.

Let him be the bearer of bad news with the other lesser-priced cars in the area and so forth. You remain the neutral buyer in the salespersons eyes, and that makes for less- stressful dialogue when coming to terms on a deal.

Remember, two heads are better than one, especially when one of them isn’t interested in buying a car that day.

If you manage to work out a deal and you would like your husband or wife to be there to finalize things, then make sure they are on standby. Don’t forget to buy your friend lunch and be prepared to return the favor when they decide to look for a new or used car.

In future posts I’ll be touching upon the new car shopping experience and the different approach you might take in regards to factory rebates and incentives as well. I hope you are able to use a few of these tips when looking to buy your next used car, truck, or SUV. Also, check out these recent listings for used cars in Cincinnati.