Where to Buy a Used Car?

What is the Best Way to Look For a Great Deal on a Used Car, Truck, or SUV?

There are just about too many places to shop for today’s car buyers. From classifieds to social media to dealership websites, we’re overwhelmed with choices and a nearly endless supply of vehicles. So where can you go to receive the best deal? Ultimately it boils down to three choices: a used car lot, a private seller, or a dealer. Each choice has its pros and cons, but when you are making such a large financial decision you want to give yourself the best opportunity of getting the absolute best deal possible.

Shopping from Independent Sellers

If you are searching for a particular vehicle, especially an older car, then a personal seller may be your only real option. You could get a great price, but you accept nearly all of the risk. You will be responsible for all of the things found at the dealership:

Customer Reviews – Good luck finding much information. Do you trust the seller?
History of the Car – You’re responsible for paying for vehicle history reports.
Payments – While many private sellers want cash, you can also try getting a loan through your bank. Either way, your choices are smaller.
No Warranty – Caveat Emptor, Buyer Beware
Maintenance Inspections – An inspection by a 3rd party is suggested, but you’re responsible for the cost.
The Current Condition of the Vehicle – There might be underlying or unknown reasons why they are selling the vehicle.

Shopping at the Local Dealer

While most of us will agree that it is the easiest way to buy a pre-owned car, some believe they can get a cheaper deal somewhere else. While you might get a cheaper price elsewhere (likely with a lot of miles and with fewer guarantees on condition), nothing can beat the service we can provide you.

Benefits of buying your next car here include:

Many Financing Options – We offer multiple ways to get you financed.
History Reports of the Vehicle – Know the history of the pre-owned car you might purchase.
CPO Vehicles – We offer Certified Pre-Owned vehicles for peace of mind.
Speedy Delivery – We deliver. Just ask and we will see what we can do.
Convenient Open Hours – We’ve got extended hours of business so that we can be accessible when needed.
Plenty of Customer Reviews – See what others think.
Fair Pricing – Our experienced pricing specialists work hard to provide fair prices.
Large Selection of Used Cars – Most dealers do not have the same selection as us.
Online Buying – Buy online if you can’t make it to the dealer.

Shopping at a Pre-Owned Car Lot

An independent pre-owned car lot has some of the same conveniences as a bigger dealer, like a large selection of vehicles and the possibility of viewing them online. You can still get a large choice of cars and the ability to view them online at a pre-owned car lot, but they also do present more risks to shoppers. While some could be entrenched in the local community, many others appear to come and go quickly. Here are a few of the other differences between a dealership and a car lot:

No CPO – Certified Pre-Owned cars, trucks, and SUVs are only available at certified dealers.
Vehicle Financing – If they provide financing, their rates are generally higher.
Vehicle Condition – Watch out for high mileage vehicles with potentially questionable backgrounds.
Reputation – Some used car lots prioritize profits over customer service.
Mechanics – Limited technicians on-site, some with minimal experience.
Pre-Sale Repairs – To maximize profits and save money ‘quick fixes’ may be utilized.
Vehicle Inspections – Inspections at used car lots are normally not quite as detailed.

Visit Kia of South Austin for Used Cars

Kia of South Austin welcomes you to discover our fantastic selection of used cars and SUVs for sale in Austin, TX. Buy, sell, trade, or even get pre-approved for financing, online or in-person. We offer quality, convenience, and competitive pricing that you can trust. Visit our Austin area used car lot today. We look forward to serving you.