Best Place To Buy Used Cars In Southern California
Many financial experts will tell you that buying an inexpensive used car and keeping it for years is one of the savviest things you can do to minimize the cost of car ownership. But if you pick the wrong vehicle or place to buy, that "cheap" car could cost you thousands in repairs or finance costs.
best place to buy used cars in southern california
In 2022, however, there may not be many "cheap" cars to speak of. As of this writing, we're facing a shortage of used cars, which has caused their market value to spike to record highs. This makes choosing the right used-car retailer even more critical, as a mistake has never been costlier. You may also need to expand your search further to find a car online or at a brick-and-mortar car dealer.
Remember that you may find used cars for sale that are under recall and not yet repaired: It's not illegal for sellers to offer such cars. Check the vehicle identification number (VIN) at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recall site so you'll know whether you're about to buy a car that you'll then need to take in for the free recall repair.
Use this list as a quick reference guide to point you toward the best place to buy a used car. Each used-car retailer has advantages and disadvantages, so depending on your priority (price? selection? warranty?), several outlets may fit your needs.
Buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) car is a convenient way to find a used car, SUV or truck in excellent condition. CPO vehicles, which are sold from dealerships of the same brand, go through extensive inspections and are reconditioned with factory parts. They also come with the best warranties. General Motors, for example, offers a one-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on all of its CPO cars. Our certified program comparison tool can help you see the differences in coverage. But just because they come with warranties doesn't mean they are exactly like new cars. Read "Certified Pre-Owned Cars: A Reality Check" to see what expectations you should have for a CPO car.
The coverage and convenience of a CPO car come at a price. CPO cars are typically the most expensive used-car option. Edmunds data indicates that consumers will pay on average a 6% to 8% premium for a 3-year-old CPO vehicle. One alternative might be to find a car from a private seller that is new enough to still be under warranty.
The remaining used-car inventory falls under this category. These cars don't typically get the same attention that a CPO car would receive but are still given a reasonable inspection. Any major issues are usually fixed before the car is put up for sale. Since dealerships accept trade-ins on a daily basis, you'll have an easy time finding these used cars at a dealer. Most dealership websites should include a link to a free Carfax or AutoCheck report, so make sure to take advantage of that and learn about the vehicle's history.
An independent dealership isn't associated with any particular automaker. The used-car selection can vary wildly, depending on whether you're shopping at a corner lot or a full-size dealership with a service department. Since the quality can also vary from one place to another, we recommend you run Google and Yelp searches and see what kind of reviews that dealer has. The Better Business Bureau is also a good resource.
Some independent used-car lots may specialize in a certain type of car, which can make your selection process easier if you have that type in mind. For example, one place might focus on European luxury makes, while another might specialize in classic cars.
CarMax is technically an independent used-car dealer. But with upwards of 200 stores nationwide, it is the largest used-car seller in the country. You'll find a wide array of late-model cars in a variety of body styles.
Shopping for a car in the private-party market offers a varied selection and a potential opportunity to get the best price, though you sacrifice the convenience of seeing many cars side by side, as you do at dealer lots. Negotiating with a private-party seller is usually much easier than negotiating with a salesperson at a dealership since most car owners haven't received formal sales training. There are many ways to find private-party vehicles. Some of the more popular places to go on the web are Autotrader, Craigslist, CarGurus and eBay Motors.
There may be good used-car candidates on these sites, but you'll have to sift through a number of listings to find one. This is where you'll likely find the lowest prices, but the condition levels of the cars can vary wildly. Many of the car photos you'll see are just plain bad. Some listings have no photos at all. Information on the cars tends to be limited, and you may have to contact the seller to get a VIN, which is what you need to run a vehicle history report. It's not uncommon to encounter cars that have salvage titles, meaning they've likely been in a serious accident. You'll sometimes run across unlicensed car salespeople pretending to be everyday owners. And then there are ads placed by scammers for cars that don't actually exist.
On Facebook Marketplace, you can click on sellers' names and see their Facebook profile (you need to be logged into Facebook to do so) and how many cars they have for sale. You can use this information to form an impression of how they cared for their car, but ultimately it's no substitute for a vehicle history report.
At CARFAX, we collect events from the lives of millions of used cars from 20 European countries, as well as the USA and Canada. We can then create a vehicle history for every car in our database and make it available to you.The information helps you to check sales data, avoid expensive follow-up costs and negotiate a fair purchase price.
Founded by six original dealerships in 1988, Ontario Auto Center is home to 19 automotive brands including Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Maserati, Mini, Nissan, RAM, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, & Volvo. With thousands of new and used cars, award-winning service departments and a convenient location, Ontario Auto Center is a one stop shop for Southern California auto shoppers
We'll help you find great deals among the millions of vehicles available nationwide on CarGurus, and we'll provide you with dealer reviews and vehicle history for each one. After all, over 30 million shoppers use CarGurus to find great deals on used cars and new cars in their area. And when it's time to get rid of your old ride, sell your car simply and securely on CarGurus.
When it comes to shopping for quality used cars in Ontario California, we're pleased to be able to offer premium options including Certified Pre-Owned Honda vehicles, and more. Each and every used car is inspected by our Honda-trained and certified technicians. On top of that, a complimentary Carfax vehicle history report is available on every car.
J Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Anaheim Hills is the premier local dealership near Anaheim, to find quality used cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs for sale. We also offer a host of new Jeep and Ram lease deals near Placentia. We invite you to stop by seven days a week to hear all about our Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram model reviews in Anaheim Hills, CA. We stock a full and complete CDJR inventory, ready to be thoroughly explored by you and your family. As the favorite local Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram dealership near Yorba Linda, you will discover that our 2023 Ram truck lineup, including the 2023 Ram 1500, is second to none.
Based in California, SchoolsFirst offers competitive rates on all types of auto loans. You could find 100% financing for new or used cars purchased from a dealer or private seller, including lease buyouts. You could also get no payments for up to 90 days to give your checking account some time to recover after making a down payment.
This credit union offers financing and refinancing on new and used vehicles bought from dealers or private sellers, including cars, boats, RVs and motorcycles. Buyers looking for financial advice and support can read BECU articles on car buying before making a commitment.
Are you shopping for a quality used car, SUV or pickup truck near Riverside and San Bernardino? Pacific Auto Center in Fontana, CA has a huge selection of late-model vehicles to choose from at highly competitive prices. From pristine used pickup trucks from a variety of manufacturers to low-mileage cars and SUVs from today's top automakers, you can find them all at Pacific Auto Center! We have two Fontana, CA used car dealership locations serving car buyers from Riverside, San Bernardino and beyond, so local drivers are never far away from getting a great deal on a high-quality used vehicle. Are you ready to find your next pickup truck, SUV or car? Then shop our used vehicle inventory now!
Here at Pacific Auto Center, we specialize in offering quality used pickup trucks for sale, but we also carry a massive inventory of cars, crossovers, SUVs, minivans and more. When you search our inventory here on our website, you can filter the search results by make, model, body style, price and even mileage. So whether you are looking to drive a used Ford F-150, pre-owned Silverado 2500 or a used SUV, you can locate your dream vehicle in a matter of minutes! Our online car shoppers can even view the CARFAX Vehicle History Reports for any used vehicles we sell! We have hundreds of pre-owned trucks and used cars for sale in stock at any given time at our two Fontana dealership lots, so feel free to shop online or shop in person at our locations. If you do not happen to find your dream truck, car, or SUV while browsing our current inventory, use our convenient Car Finder tool to ask us to locate your dream ride for you!
Other used vehicle marketplaces leave you to organize a meetup with the seller by exchanging personal info and having a lot of back-and-forth. With PrivateAuto, your personal info is kept private. Our handy in-app scheduler allows the two of you to arrange the perfect time and place. 041b061a72