Try this easy-to-follow, 11-step guide to shopping for a used car

By Content Team on November 3, 2017

Shopping for a car is easier said than done.

But it鈥檚 done every day 鈥� sometimes by shoppers who don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e doing.

We鈥檙e going to try to make sure you aren鈥檛 one of those by sharing the most common steps to shopping for a used car, according to a survey conducted by the website CarStory.com.

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Here鈥檚 what to do, emphasizing the steps most-often used, with each step followed by the percentage of survey respondents that identified it:

Calculate amount you can afford (68 percent) 鈥� It鈥檚 a less emotional step than, say, going to the dealership right away, and a good way to begin a thoughtful
Search for vehicles online (86 percent) 鈥� Hundreds of vehicle models come out each year, which means you literally have thousands of used-car choices to sort through.
Read online reviews (53 percent) 鈥� Online, print, wherever you can find something that informs you about the vehicles you are considering.
Narrow down your search (52 percent) 鈥� Use whatever factors are most important to you 鈥� reliability, fuel-efficiency, design, color, etc. 鈥� to get to a favorite handful.
Consider other vehicles (60 percent) 鈥� After narrowing the field, compare your choices to vehicles you might (or might not) have considered earlier, because you could be surprised.
Check vehicle history (59 percent) 鈥� This is a must for any used vehicles on your list.
Test drive (74 percent) 鈥� Although it鈥檚 surprising that 26 percent of shoppers don鈥檛 do this.
Check vehicle鈥檚 market value (59 percent) 鈥� Because you鈥檒l need to know that for Step 9.
Negotiate price (56 percent) 鈥� It鈥檚 the step almost everyone dreads. But if you鈥檝e done your homework, you should be more comfortable.
Negotiate financing (41 percent) 鈥� It鈥檚 the other step almost everyone dreads. Most experts suggest arranging your own financing so you can bargain like a cash customer.
Drive the car home (76 percent) 鈥� Or go back to step 5. That鈥檚 the way it goes sometimes.

One step we left out 鈥� because taking it kinda depends on how much they know about cars 鈥� would be to ask friends and family for their recommendations. But, as we said 鈥�

That should do it. Now you鈥檙e ready to go car shopping. And drive home your next vehicle.

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