What to Check When Buying a Used Car

When you shop for a used vehicle for your Long Branch, there’s more you need to consider than just the used car mileage. Follow along with Galaxy Toyota as we cover what to check when buying a used car, so you can find the right pre-owned vehicle for your needs and your budget. Read more below, then read our other car buying tips for more information on the car-buying process.

What to Check When Buying a Used Car At Home

When you start your used vehicle search, you’ll most likely begin at your Toms River home. Whether you’re checking the personal ads or browsing online, there are some easy first steps you can take before you visit a dealership:

• Check Your Budget: When you know how much money you can afford to spend, that will remove the vehicles that are not right for your budget. Use our payment calculator to find out your monthly payments. If you have a car to trade, our value your trade-in tool can help, too. 
• Check Automotive Reviews: Websites like Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power and Associates can tell you how different vehicles have aged and performed over the years, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has vehicle safety information on those makes and models. These sources can also give you the information on the cost of ownership by make, model, and year.
• Choose Your Year, Make, and Model: With your financial and vehicle information in hand, narrow your choices down to your top three makes and models. Then, find a local dealership with your favorite used car models in stock! 

What to Check When Buying a Used Car At the Dealership

After you’ve finished your preliminary research, it’s time to visit a Freehold dealership like Galaxy Toyota! While you’re here, we’ll show you your preferred used vehicle and help you with the following:

• Checking the Vehicle History Report: You want to find a used car with the best possible maintenance record, preferably one that has a clean title and hasn’t been involved in any accidents. You can also verify the miles on the odometer with a vehicle history report, along with how many owners the vehicle has had.
• Test Drive: Before you buy a used vehicle, you’ll want to see how it feels to drive in Eatontown. Make sure it has the amount of power you want, responsive brakes, and that there aren’t any unusual noises or vibrations. 
• Inspection by a Mechanic: While every car in our used vehicle inventory has been inspected for dependability and safety by our service department, and our certified pre-owned vehicles have passed the inspection mandated by the manufacturer, you still have the right to have a vehicle inspected by the mechanic of your choice before you buy it. 

Find a Used Vehicle at Galaxy Toyota

Now that you know what to look for when you shop for a used vehicle, visit our Eatontown showroom to take a test drive in your favorite used vehicle model and save with our pre-owned vehicle specials. Fill out an online finance application today to take home one of our used vehicles!