NewHow to Buy a Used Car in California: A Simple Checklist
Buying a used car is easier when you know what to look at. Here is the checklist we would give a friend in Santa Ana.
1. Set your real budget
Look past the sticker. The listed price does not include tax, registration and similar charges. Add those to your number before you start shopping, and decide how you will pay: cash, your own bank or credit union, or dealer financing.
2. Look up the car's history
Read the title status and the accident history. Ask for a Carfax report. Clean, salvage and rebuilt titles are very different things, and the price should reflect that.
3. Read the Buyers Guide
Dealers must post a Buyers Guide in the window of every used car. It tells you whether the car is sold as is or with a warranty. Read it before you drive the car.
4. Take a real test drive
Drive on city streets and on the freeway if you can. Turn off the radio. Listen for noises, feel the brakes and check the A/C. Bring your driver's license.
5. Get a second opinion
You can ask to have your own mechanic check the car before you buy. A good dealer will not mind. We welcome it.
6. Check the paperwork
Before you sign, read the contract and make sure the price, the fees and the car's VIN match what you agreed. Ask about anything you do not understand. California requires a valid smog certificate for most used car sales, so ask for it.
Questions about a car on our lot? Call us at (949) 990-6996, we answer in English and Spanish.