What to Check When Buying a Used Car

Shopping for a used car in the Minnetonka area? You’ll find that there is a wide range of options available. From compact sedans to SUVs and pickup trucks from various brands and model years. While the vast selection can be a little daunting, knowing what to check when buying a used car will help you choose a vehicle that is the right fit with your lifestyle and your budget. Learn more about things to check when buying a used car in this guide from the experts at Motorwerks MINI, then explore our used car inventory in Golden Valley today!

What to Check When Buying a Used Car: First Steps

In order to simplify the car-buying process, we recommend that you do some research at home to narrow down what you want and what you can afford. Consider the following:

• Check Your Budget: It is very important to know upfront how much money you can afford to spend. This will help you to narrow your search while ensuring that you don’t overspend. Consider whether a short-term or long-term lease will work with your budget, then use our online payment calculator to find out what your monthly payments will be. If you’re planning on trading in your current vehicle, our trade-in tool can provide you with an estimate of your car’s value in seconds. 
• Check Automotive Reviews: Online resources like Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power and Associates can provide information on the reliability, resale value, cost-to-own on various makes and model years, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has vehicle safety information that covers many years on vehicles of all kinds.
• Choose Your Year, Make, and Model: When you have set your budget and completed your research, you are in a better position to pick your top three makes and models. Then use our vehicle finder service to search for the car, truck, or SUV that will best suit your St Louis Park-area driving needs.

What to Check When Buying a Used Car: At the Dealership

Now that you have decided on a budget and what kind of car you want, you’re ready to visit a used car lot. Here are some things to check when buying a used car at a dealership near Minneapolis:

• Vehicle History Report: A vehicle history report will tell you if a used car has a clean title, if it has been involved in an accident, and if it has been kept up to date on its maintenance schedule. You can also verify the miles on the odometer and find out how many owners the vehicle has had. Note that we have many one-owner pre-owned vehicles as well as a fine selection of low mileage used cars at Motorwerks MINI.
• Test Drive: Whether you are buying a new vehicle or a used one, you’ll want to get behind the wheel to see how it feels to drive it. Make sure it has the power you want, that the brakes are responsive, and that there aren’t any unusual noises or vibrations coming from the engine or suspension.
• Vehicle Inspection: At Motorwerks MINI, we have our experienced service team thoroughly inspect every car in our used vehicle inventory to ensure that it is in top condition, inside and out. For extra peace of mind, we also offer certified pre-owned vehicles that must undergo a strict multi-point inspection as required by the manufacturer, and also come with valuable warranty coverage. Of course, you still have the right to have a vehicle inspected by the mechanic of your choice before you buy it.

Find Your Next Used Car Today at Motorwerks MINI!

When you’re ready to buy a high-quality pre-owned vehicle, head on down to Motorwerks MINI. Our friendly and knowledgeable sales associates are standing by to help you learn more about what to do after buying a used car and the difference between used vs. certified pre-owned. We’ll also make sure that you take advantage of our current used vehicle specials. Meanwhile, check out our used John Cooper Works models and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.