A lot of places tend to do this sort of thing now, attempting to eliminate haggling from the used car market and, frankly, it can go either way in terms of good or bad ideas. When you eliminate haggling you destroy any anxiety or impetus a customer feels when they walk in, but at the same time you are at the mercy of whatever “generous” discount the dealers are willing to make. That’s why, if you ever find yourself in this situation, it helps to know your stuff. Never deal with a floorwalker, not when the manager can be pulled from his desk, and always make it a point never to pay more than the Kelly Blue Book value. That’s just plain old common sense. And remember, when negotiating for a new car, you need them to think they need you and not the other way around. Even if you NEED a new car, don’t play that up.

Many people assume that used cars will have problems. Honestly, all cars will have problems at some point. It is possible to purchase a used car that has a warranty. It is also possible to purchase repair insurance from an outside source. Obviously, you will want to have the car inspected by a mechanic prior to making a purchase. This will alert you to any existing problems.

Do feel free to negotiate the price in order to get a better deal. You may be surprised to see just how much dealers are willing to bend in order to make a sale. It may be easier to haggle with personal sellers, as they have the power to set the price at whatever they wish. However, you should be able to conduct negotiations with car dealerships as well. Ask for the price you want, and you just might receive it.

One thing to look for when shopping for a used car is water damage. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, auto salvage and auction companies bought up and resold huge numbers of cars to be shipped to used car dealers across the country, but particularly in the nearby Southeastern states. Water damage such as that suffered by many of the cars shipping from New Orleans can forever ruin the smooth performance of even the best used cars.

High mileage on used cars can be expected. Having been driven for many years, it is only to be expected that used cars may come with considerable miles on their engines and bodies. A crucial element in the continued performance of cars with high mileage is there regularly scheduled maintenance. Used car shoppers would be wise to request records of maintenance throughout the course of the car’s operation.