Most Reliable Used Cars for First Time Buyers

Purchasing a used vehicle can come with many benefits, including a cheaper price tag and a lower depreciation rate. Even with those benefits, it's still important to take some other factors into consideration so you can feel confident in your investment. Whether you plan to purchase a pre-owned vehicle from a dealership or a private seller, here are 10 questions to ask when buying a used car to help you through the process. How Old Is the Car? More than likely, the car's age is one of the first factors you'll consider when shopping for a used vehicle. It's important to know how old the car is so you can estimate its current value. According to Kelley Blue Book, most vehicles depreciate by 20% within the first year and 60% within the first five years, though it depends on the make and model. Research the value of the car online before you go to the dealership or meet with a private seller. Knowing this information, you may be able to negotiate the price of the car. How Many Miles Does the Vehicle Have? In addition to age, the car's mileage provides information about its use and value. If a used car has low mileage, it's likely worth more, and vice versa. It can also make a difference if previous owners used the car more for city or highway driving. City driving, which usually involves bumpier roads, lower speeds, and more idling, can affect the vehicle's braking and suspension. It's worth asking about the car's driving history to help you make an informed decision. Does the Car Come With a Warranty? While many people associate warranties with new cars, the truth is that many used cars may still be under a manufacturer's warranty. In addition, dealerships may sell certified pre-owned vehicles, which usually come with additional protection. For example, at Eskridge Chevrolet, our Chevrolet certified pre-owned vehicles come with a one-year, 12,000-mile limited warranty and an extended powertrain warranty. This type of warranty can provide extra peace of mind when purchasing a used car. Does the Car Have Visible Exterior Damage? Take some time to inspect the vehicle for visible dings, scratches, or dents. While you may be able to live with minor blemishes, major damages can indicate structural problems that could result in costly repairs. Some areas to check out while inspecting the vehicle include: Paint scratches or areas of rust. Windshield chips or cracks. Dents in the wheels. Worn or cracked tires. Foggy or cracked headlights or taillights. How Does the Interior Look? Once you've inspected the outside, take a close look at the car's interior, since that's where you'll spend most of your time. Sniff around for any strange odors, like smoke or mildew. Check the upholstery for obvious tears or stains. While you're in the car, turn it on so you can test the heating, air conditioning, and audio system. Don't forget to look in the trunk for signs of water damage or mold. You know yourself best, so ask whether you can handle the imperfections you may find inside a used car. Has the Vehicle Been Involved in Any Accidents? A used car that's been in a minor accident or two likely won't have lasting damage. A history of major accidents may be a sign that you'll be paying for repairs well into the future. Make sure you ask about the vehicle's history so you know whether it's had previous damage and repairs. You can always ask to see a vehicle history report, which will provide this information. Most dealerships will give you this report, and private sellers can get one from places like Carfax. Can I Take the Car for a Test Drive? You wouldn't buy a new car without taking it for a test drive, so do the same when purchasing a used vehicle. Pay attention to how the car drives, including its braking, responsiveness, and handling. Even with all the information you now have about the vehicle, a test drive will give you the greatest sense of whether you'll be happy driving it on your daily commute in Guthrie, Oklahoma. If a private seller refuses to let you drive the car, it's probably a sign to keep looking. Does the Car Come With Additional Perks? Even when buying used, a new car is a serious investment, so it's worth asking if it comes with additional perks. Private sellers may have outfitted the car with accessories they'll include in the sale. At a dealership, you may get even more benefits with your used car. At Eskridge Chevrolet, we offer a range of perks when you purchase a certified pre-owned Chevrolet, including 24/7 roadside assistance, complimentary maintenance, and a satellite radio subscription. How Does the Car Affect My Insurance Premium? Purchasing a new car, even a used one, may affect the cost of your auto insurance. In addition to the cost of the vehicle, consider this expense so you can stay within your budget. For example, purchasing a much newer vehicle than the one you currently drive may cause your premium to go up. Before you buy a used car, contact your insurance company for a quote so you know what to expect. What Type of Financing Is Available? One benefit of buying a used car at a dealership is the ease of financing. Unless you plan to pay for the used car in cash, a dealership can work with you to find financing options within your budget. Many dealerships, including Eskridge Chevrolet, will even work with buyers who have bad credit or no credit to help them secure financing. At a dealership, you may also be able to trade in your current vehicle as a down payment toward the new car. Find a Quality Used Car in Guthrie, Oklahoma At Eskridge Chevrolet, we take the guesswork out of buying a used car. When you purchase a pre-owned vehicle from us, you can feel confident in its condition and value. We also sell Chevrolet certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles that undergo detailed inspections to meet rigorous standards for quality and performance. When you purchase a CPO vehicle, it's like getting a like-new car for the cost of a used one. Take a look at our current pre-owned inventory or stop by our dealership to see what we have in stock. If you have any questions, contact us today. Chevrolet Malibu by crash71100 is licensed with CC0 1.0

Are you considering purchasing one of our well-maintained used cars but want to know if it’s covered by a warranty before you make your decision? Perhaps you already have a pre-owned vehicle and you’re looking at your used car warranty options. Whatever your situation may be, it’s important to have a clear idea of the types of coverage on offer for your used crossover or truck because choosing the right type of warranty can help you save money on auto repair bills. Here’s a quick overview of the types of used car protection plans on offer. What Is a Used Car Warranty? A used car warranty can refer to several things. First of all, it may mean that a used car still has some of its factory warranty left when a person buys it from a pre-owned vehicle showroom. A used car warranty may also be a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle protection plan. Finally, a used car warranty can describe an extended warranty that you purchase from a dealership or other provider to prolong the coverage once the factory warranty expires. Here at Eskridge Chevrolet, we offer Oklahoma City drivers a range of extended warranty options. We’ve got a good selection of CPO Chevy vehicles in our showroom that are sold with a used vehicle warranty. In addition, some of our used cars are still covered by their factory warranties. All of these warranties can help cover the cost of repairing defective parts or poor workmanship when you have the work done at our Chevy service center. However, each type of warranty offers a different level of coverage for your vehicle. What Types of Factory Warranties Are There? All new vehicles sold at dealerships come with a factory warranty. In many cases, this warranty consists of a three-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The limited warranty provides coverage for malfunctioning parts and damage caused by poor workmanship on your vehicle’s major mechanical and technology systems. The powertrain warranty includes coverage for your car’s core systems, such as the engine, transmission, and driving axle. Some other factory warranties provide coverage for more specific aspects of your vehicle. A corrosion warranty provides protection against rust damage to your vehicle’s bodywork or parts for a fixed period of time. If you purchase a new electric vehicle, its battery will also be covered with a battery warranty. Keep in mind that warranties typically exclude routine maintenance from their coverage. This means that oil changes, tire rotations, fluid refills, and similar tasks aren’t covered. There are exceptions to this rule, including in some CPO programs that offer several complimentary maintenance appointments. What Is a CPO Warranty? Many automakers run a CPO program, which is designed to guarantee higher quality standards among the used cars sold by dealerships. To be considered a CPO vehicle, a used car needs to pass an extensive multi-point inspection conducted by a trained mechanic, who will carry out any repairs or reconditioning to make sure the vehicle is in good condition. The manufacturer backs its CPO vehicles with a warranty, which varies depending on the terms of the manufacturer’s CPO program. For example, Chevy’s CPO program allows you to purchase a used Silverado 1500 or a pre-owned Travis from our Oklahoma City showroom. To qualify, the vehicle has to be no more than 6 model years old and have no more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. If the candidate car meets these requirements, it goes through a 172-point inspection performed by one of our technicians. Chevy also backs all its CPO vehicles with a six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 12-month, 12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The powertrain warranty runs from the original in-service date. This means that if your CPO Equinox is 3 years of age, you’d have another three years of powertrain coverage. The bumper-to-bumper warranty runs from the date you buy the CPO vehicle and is added to any remaining limited factory warranty. Benefits of Extended Warranties If your car or SUV doesn’t have a CPO warranty and its factory warranty has expired, you can still get coverage by purchasing an extended warranty. These plans allow you to choose how long you want the coverage to last and the extent of the protection. For instance, you could choose to purchase a one-year bumper-to-bumper extended warranty or a three-year powertrain extended warranty. One of the main advantages of purchasing this protection is that you could save yourself the trouble of paying an expensive repair bill as your vehicle gets older. Another benefit of an extended warranty is that it can be transferred to a new owner in the event you sell your car. You may find that you can get a better price when selling your used vehicle if it has a warranty, since potential buyers will recognize the added protection it offers them. Why You Should Rely on Eskridge Chevrolet for Your Extended Warranty Whether you’re looking to purchase one of our CPO vehicles or an extended warranty, you can depend on Eskridge Chevrolet to provide you with coverage that’s easy to understand and that gives you high-quality repairs. If you’re looking for a professional service center to carry out work covered by your factory warranty or extended warranty, our Chevy-certified mechanics have the expertise and equipment to get the job done. If you’re buying a used car from our showroom with one of our competitive auto financing deals, our finance team can agree on a loan package with you that includes the additional cost of an extended warranty. This’ll allow you to cover the cost of purchasing your vehicle and the warranty in one easy-to-manage payment plan. If you still have questions about the different types of used car warranties or whether something is covered by your warranty, feel free to contact us today. Our service team here at Eskridge Chevrolet will endeavor to provide you with expert advice, professional vehicle maintenance and repairs, and a friendly customer service experience. We hope to welcome you soon to our Oklahoma City service center. Chevrolet Suburban LT 2016 by RL GNZLZ is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0