15 Secrets to Buying a Used Car

15. Keep the Future in Mind

Most people don’t keep the same car forever. If they did, there would be no used cars on the market. Most of the time, the car you buy today will not be the one you’ll be driving five or 10 years from now. Before you drive a car off the lot, you should think about what will happen when you decide it’s time for something new. Will you trade it in? Will you sell it on Craigslist? Or do you plan to drive it until it’s only useable for scrap metal?

None of these options are inherently good or bad, but they should affect your decision-making process. Some cars hold their value much better than others. If you know that you’ll be selling this car in a few years, do yourself the favor of choosing a vehicle that will fetch a decent price. Otherwise, you stand to lose money in the long-term, putting yourself at an immediate disadvantage the next time you decide to buy a new c