How to Avoid Buying a Lemon at Donohoo Auto

We get it – purchasing a pre-owned or used vehicle is filled with uncertainty! The last thing you want to do is purchase a vehicle and drive it home only to realize it has serious engine issues and is a lemon. Before you pucker your lips and try to make lemonade, there are a few simple steps you can take to avoid buying a lemon. Continue reading to learn how to avoid buying a lemon from a used car dealership.

Take Your Time & Do Your Due Diligence

Purchasing a new or used vehicle isn’t like purchasing a pack of gum or a shirt. Unlike the latter two purchases, buying a vehicle should involve a well-thought-out plan. Besides, when you buy a vehicle, you’re most likely purchasing the second-most expensive item of your life other than a house. Although the process warrants excitement, you shouldn’t make hasty decisions. Don’t let a fresh coat of wax or the infectious new car smell make you blind to blaring problems you should avoid at all costs. Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, you shouldn’t choose to invest in a vehicle just because of a few shiny features.

Always Check the Vehicle’s Title History

Today, you have access to more information than ever about any potential vehicle. Make sure you’re using this information to do your due diligence and make an intelligent decision. CarFax.com and Autocheck.com are both consumer-friendly websites that offer a myriad of information about the title of a specific vehicle. You should pay special attention to whether the vehicle has had its odometer rolled back, has been in a flood, and the number of accidents the vehicle has been in. Even though these sites are not 100% infallible, they are an excellent place to start.

Does the Dealership Offer a Free CarFax or Autocheck Report?

While you can always go and purchase the vehicle’s history report from CarFax or Autocheck, any credible dealership will readily provide this information. If you’re considering purchasing a vehicle from a dealership and they are reluctant to provide this information to you, you should be alarmed. Instead, you can save yourself a lot of money, time, and heartache by doing business with a reputable dealership who is willing to be transparent by offering complimentary vehicle history reports.

Buy an Extended Warranty on the Vehicle

Yes, extended warranties cost additional money, but they will almost always pay for themselves at the first significant mechanical breakdown. In addition, purchasing an extended warranty is one of the safest ways to avoid buying a lemon. Even if you purchase an outright sour lemon of a vehicle, the warranty would cover the necessary repairs to get the vehicle performing up to par. As a result, the experts at Donohoo Auto offer a range of different extended warranties on virtually every vehicle we sell. We do so to offer you an added peace of mind and to help you make the best decision with more confidence and less fear of sour lemons.

Contact Donohoo Auto to Avoid Buying a Lemon

Instead of buying a vehicle from a shady dealership (lemon orchard), the best way to avoid buying a lemon is to purchase a vehicle from the reputable sales professionals at Donohoo Auto. For several years, Donohoo Auto has been the best used car dealership in Pelham— offering reliable vehicles at exceptional prices. If you’re in the market for a high-quality pre-owned or used vehicle, trust the locally owned Donohoo Auto for one of the largest inventories of dependable used vehicles in the Southeastern United States. Contact us today!

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