4 Facts to Consider before Buying a Used Truck

Buying a used truck offers many benefits. They're less expensive and, generally, just as reliable as new trucks. Additionally, buyers are not responsible for absorbing the drastic depreciation in the value of a new truck over the first two or three years of the truck's life. Nowadays, many used trucks are included in a manufacturer's certified used vehicle program, giving used truck buyers additional peace of mind.

Even though many benefits exist to buying a used truck, there are some considerations you need to keep in mind when researching, test driving and negotiating the price of a used truck. Below are four questions to research.

• How many miles are on the truck? The consideration here isn't necessarily that a truck has high mileage, but instead how the high mileage was accumulated. If the truck was primarily used for commuting, the majority of the miles may be freeway miles, which are easier on a truck than miles gathered primarily in stop-and-go traffic. If buying a used truck from a dealership, the answer to this question may not be as easy to determine as if the truck is being purchased from a private party. However, if the truck is relatively new and the body is in fairly good shape, these are signs that the truck's high mileage may have been accumulated through freeway driving.
• What did the previous owner use the truck for? If the truck was used for heavy towing, frequent hauling, off-roading or as a teenager's first vehicle, the truck may have been driven more abusively. Like the consideration about the truck's mileage above, this may be more difficult to determine if the truck is being purchased at a dealership. However, a few areas of the truck can be inspected to help determine this. One of them is the back of the truck. If the paint around the top of the bed, and the bed itself, looks a little rough around the edges, that's a sign that the truck may have seen its share of heavy hauling.
• Does the truck have a clean title? Knowing the mechanical history is an important piece of information when purchasing a used truck. What sort of mechanical work has been done to it? Has it been in any accidents? Who performed any repairs the truck may have needed? Many owners keep documentation of all work done on the truck. Additionally, many of the truck's repairs (and all accidents) should appear on its vehicle history report. Look up a truck's vehicle history report on the Autocheck.
• What will you use the truck for? If heavy hauling and/or towing is in the truck's future, it may be best to consider one with a diesel engine. Diesels are known for their towing capabilities, and typically have a longer, more reliable life span than their gasoline equivalents. It's not uncommon to see diesel trucks with 200,000 or more miles on them still running strong. If you are simply looking for a used truck to handle errand-running and daily-driving responsibilities, perhaps a small to midsize truck is a better option.

How to Buy a Used Truck That Was Impounded

Depending on what you are looking for in a used truck, searching the impound lots can result in significant savings. Obviously buying an impounded car or truck brings its own unique set of challenges, but if done properly it is possible to buy a good quality vehicle at a greatly reduced price.

Types of Impounded Cars
There are a couple of different places to buy impounded cars. Cars impounded for parking violations end up at a local towing company yard. In the majority of cities these companies can sell impounded vehicles if no one has come to claim them for 30 days. This allows the towing company to cover their towing and storage costs. Another type of impounded vehicle is one that ends up in a police impound. These can be vehicles that have been used to commit crimes, or the personal vehicles of people that have been arrested and had their vehicles seized. The IRS also impounds vehicles of people that have not paid their taxes.

Auction Locations
Call your local police department for information regarding their next auction. Calling local impound yards or towing companies is also a good way to find a local auctions. You can also find this information online. There are services that will notify you of local auctions for a reasonable fee. Normally the police department and impound lots release a list of the vehicles to be sold.

Research
Impounded vehicles do not come with a warranty so it is best to do as much research as you can about the vehicles you are interested in. Check Kelly Blue Book to get an idea of the truck's value. Search owner forums to see if there are any common problems you should be aware of and find out as much about the truck as possible. On the day of the auction you can usually inspect the vehicles a few hours prior to the event. It's possible you may be allowed to take them for a test drive, but this is not always the case. Give the vehicles you are truly interested in a thorough inspection. Check the inside of the vehicle to see how well it was cared for, examine the engine and check fluid levels. If you are not handy with cars it may be beneficial to take a mechanic friend along if possible.

Bidding
Once the bidding starts it is best not to become emotionally invested in a vehicle. It is easier than you think to end up in a bidding war and paying much more then you had budgeted for the vehicle. Remember there will always be another car, so stick to your budget and upper limits of your bidding range. There are no guarantees with these vehicles. You may end up with a great truck or something that has to be towed to the junkyard a few days later, so bid accordingly.

After the Auction
It is best to have a plan on how to get the vehicle home. Some of them may not start or will need a new battery. These trucks have been sitting for awhile so plan ahead for a tow truck or a new battery if necessary.

Finding a used truck at an impound auction can be rewarding if you are careful about what you purchase and how much you pay for it. These auctions are basically a gamble so come prepared and stay within your budget and you may be driving home in a great used truck.

How to Buy Used Truck Parts for Cheap

If you want to buy used truck parts at a low price, you need to bear in mind a few guidelines. Although OEM parts are your best bet, you might not want to spend a large sum of money if you could replace the part with a quality used part. There are many aftermarket car parts that work as effectively as OEM parts or even better. However the quality and reliability of aftermarket car parts is generally questionable. As a general guideline, avoid using cheap parts if you have to compromise on the safety of your vehicle. If you've purchased an extended auto warranty, the replacement of certain truck parts may already be listed on your policy. You could thus have them replaced for free or by paying a small deductible amount.

Guidelines

• Look for junk yards or salvage car dealers in your neighborhood. You could find their location and contact details on the Internet. You could also ask your local mechanic if they know of any salvage yards in the vicinity.
• Before settling for a used truck part, research several car part wholesalers online. They offer discounted prices on most car and truck parts throughout the year. Some good websites to research include Car Parts WHOLESALE and AUTO PARTS GIANT. Most of these parts are available for a fraction of the price charged at your local car parts store.
• If you still aren't satisfied with the wholesale discounted rates, visit eBay Motors to look for used truck part auctions. You will be able to find private seller listings along with third party seller listings. You could bid for any item that matches your requirements and obtain any available part for a good price.
• Salvage yards and auto recyclers often sell quality used truck parts to independent used part companies. To find out if these sellers have the part you're looking for, research UNeedAPart and UsedWreckingYards.com.
• You should also browse through your local newspaper to find out if there are any salvage yards or auto recyclers located in your area. Several used part sellers offer promotions and limited time offers. You can take advantage of these offers to buy a part at a low price.
• Your local mechanic may also have a few used parts handy. You should visit a few mechanics in your area, and ask around to find truck parts for cheap.