Regardless of the type of used car that you want to purchase, getting a new vehicle for yourself or for your family can be an exciting time.  You don’t need to have a brand-new vehicle to feel comfortable and safe, as many used vehicles offer the same experience without paying the price of a new vehicle.  

However, dealing with the painful and sometimes annoying car-buying process from local car dealerships can be extremely stressful.  Nobody wants to deal with an aggressive salesperson.  That is why many drivers are making the switch to searching for and purchasing their vehicles online instead of spending time at multiple dealerships. Let DriveSmart show to shop for a used car online.  

Step 1: Budget

Just like purchasing a home or any other large purchase, you need to set and stick to a budget when purchasing a used vehicle.  It may be tempting to go for upgrades or features that you would like to see in your vehicle but sometimes it might break your budget.  

The best way to figure out the budget that is right for you when purchasing a used vehicle is to do lots of research and take a look at the purchase price at some dealerships. You can use websites online such as the Kelly Blue Book to get an idea of the overall MSRP value of the vehicle.  

Another factor that many individuals forget to keep in mind when purchasing a vehicle is the cost of maintenance on the used vehicle.  Every vehicle has a different cost when it comes to oil changes or tire rotations.  Luckily, if you equip your new used vehicle with a DriveSmart Vehicle Service Contract, you would receive an introductory maintenance package that would cover all of your maintenance for the first 18 months.  

  Step 2: Pick a Vehicle that Works for You

Just because you came up with a budget, does not mean you should jump at the first vehicle that fits inside your budget.  You need to look at how reliable the vehicle is going to be for you and your family.  It’s great to keep in mind that certain vehicles might have a higher occurrence of unexpected repairs and different types of breakdowns. 

Depending on whether you live in a state with cold weather or hot weather, or a bit of both.  It is important to pick a vehicle that is going to suit your driving conditions.  You would not want to purchase a vehicle that does horrible in the snow when you live in a cold and snowy state.  

When purchasing a used vehicle, you will also want to research about recalls so that you can find a reliable vehicle.  You will also want to read about different vehicle fuel economies, and safety features to find a vehicle that fits your style and needs.  

Step 3: Start Online Shopping

Once you have narrowed it down to a specific few vehicles that you are interested in, it is at that point that you will be ready to start the process of hunting and purchasing your vehicle online.  There are two different online car shopping options, the first is visiting a dealership website which allows internet sales departments to search for the vehicle, and allows you to purchase it online.  

The second option is to use one of the new car buying websites such as Carvana, which lets you purchase the vehicle online and delivers it directly to your house. Regardless of the type of website that you decide to start using for online car shopping, be sure to do some research and make sure that you feel comfortable with the buying process.  

At this point, hopefully, you can purchase a used vehicle online that fit your budget.  Avoid those nasty add-ons and upsells that you don’t need and purchase that used vehicle that is going to suit you and your family for many years to come!

Step 4: Equip a Protection Plan

The last thing you will want to do once you receive your used car from online shopping is to equip it with a vehicle protection plan.  The best protection plan to use is DriveSmart because it is designed to protect your vehicle from unexpected breakdowns and repairs that normal auto insurance, GAP insurance, or other types of automotive ancillary product insurance won’t cover.  

This is extremely important with all used vehicles because they don’t come with any type of manufacturer warranty.  If your used vehicle is older than five years, then it absolutely does not have any type of warranty on the vehicle, which makes a DriveSmart protection plan extremely valuable.  DriveSmart also comes with other benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, introductory maintenance, rental car assistance, and more!