When buying a second-hand car, a little bit of research before-hand will go a long way. Used car salespeople, at times quite aggressive, and intimidating – and are famous for it. Here are some survival tips from a former used car salesperson.

1: If the salesperson who approaches you makes you feel uncomfortable, or is too aggressive, insist on dealing with someone else. If this simple request cannot be met, go to another car yard, there are more than enough to go around.

2: Never buy a car on your first visit to a second-hand car yard. The selling pressure never ceases and you will be informed,  that the “big sale” ends tomorrow, or that someone else is interested in the same vehicle you are. Once you have chosen a car, you will now want to physically remove yourself from the point of sale, do some research to make sure you are getting a good price and not buying a lemon. If you don’t walk away, you won’t get the chance to do the research, the sales pressure will not cease and you could get burned.

3: Make sure you know how much the vehicle is worth before you buy it. If you are trading-in a vehicle, you can find out how much that is worth, also. The most realistic car value research tool is at Nada.com. The used car industry uses NADA guides, and the results can’t be disputed. You can print up your results and take them with you to the car dealership to help you negotiate.

4: Don’t buy a car until the end of the month. This is when the salespeople and managers are scrambling to reach their sales targets and make their bonuses. They are more than willing to negotiate at the end of the month than they are at the beginning of the month.

5: Know the vehicle’s history. Having decided on a car and negotiated the price, tell the salesperson to order a carfax report. Once you have the report, check the VIN (serial number) against the vehicle in question, making certain they match. With a carfax report, you will know important facts such as how many people have owned the car and whether it has ever been in an accident.

6: Having found the vehicle you want, at the price that suits you, take it for a test drive – drive it straight to your local mechanic to have a look at. If the salesperson or car yard manager won’t let you take the car to a mechanic, then you are at the wrong dealership and you should walk out.

7: Lemon laws don’t apply to used, or second-hand cars, so, follow the advice given above.