Buying a used car instead of a brand new one is a great way to save your hard-earned cash. However, it’s a fact that cars tend to have more problems the older they get, so buying used cars will come with a certain degree of risk. Fortunately, you can minimize this risk somehow by choosing to deal only with reputable used car dealers.
Portland has a lot of used car dealers; many are large franchises with state-of-the-art service departments, and some are just meager car lots. Large dealers will usually say that they have inspected their cars before putting them on sale, offering different levels of warranties in the process. True, such inspections and warranties can make you feel secure, but in truth, they are not enough to prevent you from buying a lemon.
The best way to ensure the trustworthiness of a used car is to research the dealer’s trustworthiness. Word-of-mouth from trusted sources is your best reference. Ask anyone close to you if they have had dealings with a particular used car dealer, and ask about their level of satisfaction over their purchase and dealer’s customer service. Once you’ve confirmed that the used car dealer you plan on dealing with is held in high regard, then it could be time to talk to them.