If you have recently survived a San Diego car accident, there is no doubt that you have many questions on your mind and concerns you need to address. You may be in the market for a used vehicle if your previous vehicle was totaled or severely damaged in a recent San Diego car accident. What follows are several tips for buying a pre-owned car so that you can get the most for your money.

Top Tips for Buying a Car After a San Diego Car Accident

Make Sure You Set Your Budget Ahead of Time

A good guideline is that your monthly car payment should make up no more than 1/5th of your take home pay. Make sure you have an idea of your budget before you hit the lot because it’s much easier to be flexible and take on more than you can handle when you actually see the car in person.

Check Reviews and Prices

It’s important to look for cars within your price range but you can narrow down the things you are looking for by evaluating reviews from actual drivers. Make sure to also pay attention to safety details as well.

Look Through the Vehicle History Report

When you feel like you’ve settled on a used car that might be the perfect fit for you, never start negotiating with the salesman until you’ve had the opportunity to look specifically at the vehicle history report. Some salesmen might not be aware of a car’s full history or may not be upfront with this information but a report can tell you exactly what has happened to the vehicle in the past. If it is previously been damaged in another San Diego car accident, you may decide not to purchase it. One of the most important details to look for is whether or not the vehicle has a salvaged title, meaning that it was previously declared a complete loss by the insurance company. Also, look for issues such as whether or not the vehicle’s odometer has been rolled back.

Rely on Your Negotiation Skills

When you are negotiating to buy a used car after a San Diego car accident, you need to make sure that you always feel comfortable throughout the process. You also may need to set aside some time to be patient to work through the buying process. At least one hour may need to be spent negotiating in the dealership.

Buying a car after a San Diego car accident might seem overwhelming at first, but it can also be a great opportunity to purchase a reliable vehicle so that you can move on from this traumatic event as soon as possible.