One of the toughest things about buying a used car in Oklahoma City is knowing if the cars you’re looking at are reliable. This is even harder when you have bad credit. If you’re looking at used cars online or at dealerships, you might be worried about getting a lemon. Finding a reliable used car in Oklahoma City is tricky – unless you know what to look for.
Here at The KEY in OKC, we buy and sell hundreds of used cars every month. All that experience has made us experts in telling the good cars from the bad. Read on to get some of our top advice for finding your own quality used car in Oklahoma City.
Set a Budget
One big mistake used car buyers make is thinking they’ll get a great car at a rock-bottom price. The truth is, cheaper cars are almost always cheap for a reason. When you’re searching for a used car in Oklahoma City, you’ll be better off buying one that is a bit more expensive but is also in better condition.
That’s why it’s important that you set a budget for your car purchase and then try to stay close to it. Of course you can negotiate below that budget, but don’t start your search with cars that are too cheap. You could regret it later on.
Do Lots of Research
The Internet is the best tool you have for finding a great used car in Oklahoma City. Most dealers, and many private sellers, post their cars and trucks online. This makes it easy to compare across models and brands.
You might want to start with a roundup or overview from a company such as Edmunds, KBB, or Consumer Reports. These articles will give you a rundown on the most reliable or popular cars each year. You can then use that information to narrow your search here in OKC.
Once you have an idea of which model you’d like, you should then check out reviews and owner’s reports. Try to see what common issues the car or truck may have. This will help you know what to look for when you check out one of the cars in person.
Get the Car Checked Out
Unless you’re a professional mechanic, you should never rely on your own first impressions of a car. It’s always a good idea to take any used car you want to buy to an independent mechanic to get it checked out first.
A few of the things they should definitely look at are:
- The car’s oil, transmission fluid, and other fluid levels.
- The battery and electrical system.
- The wheels, brakes, and tires.
- The steering and suspension.
Remember, your goal is to get a dependable and reliable used car. Don’t worry so much about purely cosmetic problems like paint scratches or faded carpeting. It’s more important to focus on getting a car that is mechanically sound.
Only Go to a Reliable Dealer
If you’re searching for a reliable used car in Oklahoma City, you should visit a reliable Oklahoma City used car dealer. The KEY in OKC is one of the city’s most trusted and reliable used car dealerships. We sell cars to people from all walks of life, and we never judge you based on your credit score or past finances. Plus, all our cars come from high-quality sellers such as rental car agencies and company fleets. That means you know they’ve been taken care of.
If you want to find a reliable used car in Oklahoma City today, call us today at The KEY at (405) 526-7010. You can also view our entire inventory online or check out our social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter for more info!
