Used car sales have gone up by approximately 25% in recent months.  Used cars are cheaper all around, they cost less, depreciate slower, and are cheaper to insure, but  you can end up paying more in the long run in repairs if you select the wrong car,  so here are a few tips to help you make the best decision possible in selecting a used car;

1. Purchase an extended warranty or extended service agreement.  If the dealership doesn’t offer one, or you are buying a car from an individual, you can still buy a service agreement, many third party businesses offer extended warranties, you can even find service agreements online.  Make sure to do your homework and check out the business to make sure it is credible
2. Check on the repair history for the make and model of car you have selected.  Even though you are purchasing an extended service agreement, not everything will be covered, general maintenance expenses for example.  You can go to an online source like Consumer Reports which has a huge database of information with comments from the actual owners on their experience with a particular vehicle.
3. After you have selected a particular used car to purchase, check out the history on that vehicle by purchasing a vehicle report from a third-party source, Car Fax is a popular source. It will give you information like whether or not the car has been in an accident, what the true odometer reading is on the car, a list of major maintenance that has been done, and if the car has been rebuilt after being in an accident that caused it to be declared a total loss.
4. Have the car checked out by a mechanic who you know and trust.  If a dealership or seller won’t allow you to take the car to have it checked out by your own mechanic, it may be wise to pass on purchasing that particular vehicle.
5. Find out in advance how much the car will cost to insure, if your goal is to save money, it doesn’t make sense to purchase a less expensive used sports car, for example, and then end up paying double for insurance.

If you want to have the same security in buying a used car as a new car buyer has, consider purchasing a previously owned certified BMW from Otto’s BMW, your local Pennsylvania BMW dealer.