Gathering information when buying a used car: Carfax vs. KBB vs. NADA

I have sold cars so this advice is based on that experience, There is a lot to consider. First, you should know your requirements, like manual or automatic, 4 or 2-door, car, van, or truck, etc. Will you just be driving back and forth to work or using this vehicle in your job? For example, if you are delivering pizza or in outside sales like myself, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your car. If so, you’ll want better fuel economy, lower maintenance, greater reliability, and greater comfort. For someone driving on shorter trips, that won’t be as important. A carfax report will help and if dealing with a car dealer you can ask for that or the number of the previous owner. I do know some dealers can give bogus owner info and you may be talking to a friend or employee of the dealership so buyer beware. There are flood-damaged cars on the market so look in the trunk and less obvious areas for suspicious water damage or rusting. Anytime you get a bad feeling or see something suspicious, follow your gut and don’t be afraid to walk away. There are plenty of cars to go around. If not mechanically savvy, especially if there’s no warranty(which I’d recommend), take the car to a mechanic you trust. Even if you have to pay, this may save you thousands down the road. Dealers use the N.A.D.A. handbook not the Kelly Blue Book to price cars. They might say these use that especially if a trade is involved because the figures work in their favor. The local library or your bank will have this handbook. You are interested in the wholesale price accounting for mileage and adding or subtracting options on the particular model you are considering to get the price. This is the approximate price they paid for the car they are selling. They might have paid a little more but usually that or less. This is also all they will really give you for your trade. They will appear to give you more because they are just adding extra from the mark-up on the car they are selling. They need to make a profit and if it is a decent car, they should but you should get a good price too. This will take some savvy on your part. If you are not comfortable at this, bring reinforcement to help you so you won’t be a pushover. With any business opportunity, knowledge and preparation is key to get the most for your hard-earned dollars.