The Ease of Buying a Used Car at Mike Murphy Ford

Most Peoria drivers probably don’t think of used car shopping as a pleasant experience, well, at least the ones who haven’t shopped at Mike Murphy Ford. We do our best to make your visit and stress-free and provide an easy car buying experience. That’s why we’ve won multiple awards, including the 2021 CarGurus Top Rated Dealer Award for Excellence in Customer Experience. But another way to alleviate the stress out of shopping for a used car is to prepare. So, we’ve put together the guide below on how to buy a used car, including a used car checklist. 

How to Buy a Used Car

Buying a used car is easy when you’ve done your research. The quickest way to an easy car buying experience is to arrive at the lot knowing how much you can spend and what kind of car is best suited for your specific needs. Just follow these steps:

How to Buy a Used Car

• Know your budget – this should include, not only your budget for the total price of the car, but also for monthly payments and the down payment.
• Know what you need in a car – while it is helpful to know which car you’re interested in before you arrive at the dealership, it’s not strictly necessary if you know what your needs are (i.e., good gas mileage,3rd row seating, high towing capacity, etc). We can point you to the best vehicles for you.
• Check out ourused car specials.
• Select one or more vehicles and take them for a test drive – you will also want to take this time to look the car over thoroughly.
• Work out financing and other fees with our financing department and sign the paperwork.
• Drive home with your newly-purchased car!

Used Car Checklist – What You Should Ask

No matter what dealership you visit in the greater East Peoria area, knowing which questions to ask goes a long way towards an easy car buying experience. Here are some questions to ask when buying a used car:

Used Car Checklist – Questions to Ask the Dealer

• Is there a history of maintenance? We will show you the CARFAX.
• Is the vehicle history report available?
• Do the amenities and features work like they’re supposed to?
• What is the ownership history?
• What is the vehicle’s mileage?
• Are there any current recalls on the vehicle?
• How was the vehicle priced?
• Can I take the car to a mechanic for an inspection?
• Do you have the title in hand?
• Is the car as is, or is it under warranty?
• What is the “out-the-door” price of the vehicle, including taxes and dealer’s fees? 

Check Out the Quality Used Cars at Mike Murphy Ford of Morton

It is always our goal to provide you with an easy car buying experience. So, why not take one or more of our quality used cars for a test drive? In the meantime, if you’d like to be even more prepared, check out our posts onwhat is considered good mileage for a used car andhow to trade in a car. We’re right down the road from Pekin, so drop in for a visit or give us a call.