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Like the New Yorker said, just look or ask for the 16 digit Vehicle Identification number. It is in the door jam and up on the driver side of the dashboard.
And again, do not buy from Carmax, you will pay $3000.00- $5000.00 more than what a used car is worth.
Like the New Yorker said, just look or ask for the 16 digit Vehicle Identification number. It is in the door jam and up on the driver side of the dashboard.
And again, do not buy from Carmax, you will pay $3000.00- $5000.00 more than what a used car is worth.
I paid under blue book for my 4Runner. Couldn't find one that well-priced private. So, I guess it's a YMMV. I've had nothing but a good experience there. Really, if you buy at CarMax or private, the key is to do the necessary research beforehand.
I paid under blue book for my 4Runner. Couldn't find one that well-priced private. So, I guess it's a YMMV. I've had nothing but a good experience there. Really, if you buy at CarMax or private, the key is to do the necessary research beforehand.
We got a great deal on ours, as well. We had taken a lot of time to research on the internet so we knew what we were looking for. Before we stopped in the dealership, we knew exactly which vehicles we wanted to test drive. We did our window shopping online and went in with a price we were willing to pay.
I'm sure everyone has their own experiences, but like yours, ours was a good one.
Your premium is based on a ton of factors...where you live, your driving history, the type of car...there's just no way to give you an "average premium" for just any car.
One thing I forgot to mention... The premium also will differ depending on what insurance company you go with. Different companies offer different credits and deductions.
Carmax stays in business due to the general apathy of the buying public- in that many people do not want to do the heavy lifting when it comes to used car buying. They don't want to research the best car, get it inspected by a reputable service tech, negotiate the best deal, pre-arrange financing, etc.. They want to buy a car like buying a toaster- scratch that, I'll bet more people invest more time in finding the beat price on a toaster.
Carmax runs their reassuring ads, leading consumers to believe one will get the best deal and you don't have to worry about such silliness as comparison shopping- balderdash. I learned the hard way- I bought a 2004 RX8 from them- I could have made a much better deal at a local used car dealer, even better on a private sale, I could have taken it to my mechanic for a detailed inspection, and been much happier.
Shop around. Get knowledgeable on what suits your needs the best. Find a GOOD mechanic, and then INSIST on taking the car to him for evaluation. If the dealer or person balks- walk away- they have something to hide. If you are financing the car, get it arranged in advance- you are essentially dealing in cash then, and the old "if we get the payment right, will you buy today?" goes away.
Good luck- car buying can be fun, frustrating, depressing and exhilirating at the same time!
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Buying an used car
