Written by Original Source | Posted in Automotive

Purchasing a used vehicle is a chore we all have to do at some point, fortunately there are a number of places you can go to get one.  What are the advantages of buying private or buying certified?  Do you have a Carmax in your area, is it a better option than the used car dealer?

Creating a firm budget before you visit any of these places will help you make a purchase that actually meets your needs rather than being ‘sold.’  First you should prioritize things like budget, warranty and service or maintenance issues before you make the final call.

CarMax is a big conglomerate of used car dealerships set up all over the country, this allows them to feel like a local dealer but with the advantage of bigger inventory.  Part of what has brought them so much success is their testing and certification process, which returns less than half of the cars they receive to the show room floor.  The remaining amounts are returned to the auction block and sold to the used car independent agents in your town.

Carmax has done the best it can to make the purchasing process relatively easy for the consumer.  When you purchase a car there you will notice the sales people do not hustle you to get a bigger more expensive car, this is because they are paid on a flat commission not a percentage of the value of the car.  So whether you purchase a small gas efficient compact or a huge SUV the sales guy makes the same.  Finally there are no negotiating terms involved as all the car prices are fixed.

If you plan to bring a trade in there is no negotiating there either as the car will have a predetermined fixed value.  Most locations will even offer a thirty day money back guarantee in case there is something you didn’t get a chance to see/hear the first time around.  In an effort to be fully disclosed to its customers, Carmax also offers a 5 day money back guarantee, so if you are not happy with the purchase just bring it back for a full refund.

At the end of the day you need to decide what is most important to you, if the tires are not good do they offer tires for sale, do they offer a warranty of any kind?  Carmax can meet a lot of your needs but make sure you go where you feel comfortable.

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