Buying used is a great way to save money on your next truck, regardless of what type you choose. But shopping for a used truck may be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. There are many things to take under consideration, from your budget to the condition of the vehicle to what types of repairs have been performed, and you don’t want to end up forking over your hard-earned cash for a lemon.
White’s International Trucks, with seven locations throughout the state, is your North Carolina used truck dealer. Here is a checklist to help you with the used truck buying process.
1. Know What You Want
First, you need to understand your own needs so you can look for a truck that matches up with what you want. List out your requirements in a used truck. Do you want a day cab or sleeping cab? How much weight do you need your truck to haul? Are you concerned about the appearance of the truck? What features do you want that will make driving easier? Understanding your needs will help you eliminate any options that don’t fit, which can help save time.
2. Form a Budget
Now you’ll need to consult your finances to learn how much you can afford to spend. When considering the total cost of a used truck, don’t forget about additional costs that don’t factor into the sticker price. For example, you’ll need to consider maintenance fees, replacement parts, storage concerns and insurance, among other external costs. Don’t be blindsided by any of these fees once you’ve purchased your used truck or you may not even be able to drive it!
3. Get the Vehicle’s History
When you’ve landed on a vehicle that you like, obtain the full vehicle history from the seller or dealership. You’ll want to know when and how often oil changes were performed, how many times the truck was serviced, what the mileage of the truck is, whether the truck has incurred any major damage and
4. Ask Why It’s Being Sold
This may seem uncouth, but a reputable seller will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the vehicle. Most sellers will simply be upgrading their trucks and need to offload their older models, but some people may be trying to pawn off a faulty vehicle to make it someone else’s problem. Don’t let that someone be you! Some sample questions you may wish to ask include:
- Why are you selling this truck?
- Has the truck suffered any accidents?
- What types of repairs have been performed?
- How much was the truck driven, and how often?
- What was the truck used for?
5. Perform an Inspection
Now you’ll want to do your own inspection of the interior and exterior of the truck. Look over the engine and check the oil to make sure that it’s clean and not sludgy or full of metal shavings. Examine the body of the truck for signs of rust or corrosion. Open up doors and windows to make sure they don’t stick. Ask to do a test drive so you can feel whether the engine shakes or makes strange noises. Look over the tires to see if they’re worn down or worn unevenly.
If you have your doubts, you can always hire a professional to perform their own independent inspection of the used truck. They can present you with their findings so that you can decide whether the truck meets your standards. This service does cost a bit more, but it can be worth it for such an expensive purchase.
We hope these tips help you to make a wise and informed purchasing decision. Of course, the best way to ensure that you get a good deal on a dependable used truck is to shop with a local dealer that you can rely on, like White’s International Trucks. Ready to see some models? Visit one of our several locations in North Carolina to take a look at our wide stock of used trucks for sale. White’s International Trucks proudly serves all of our North Carolina customers.
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