This post is part of a sponsored automotive series. All opinions are mine.
This time of year seems to be a busy season for parents looking to find a good deal on a car for their college kid(s). It’s a little bit different process in that parents are typically looking to find a reliable car for a good price. It doesn’t necessarily need to be able to fit much as far as cargo goes, but the biggest thing seems to be safety and reliability (along with affordability, of course.) So after consulting with this Georgia Dodge dealer, I got some great tips for finding the best deal on a vehicle for your college kid.
Set Your Budget
First off, figure out what you can afford. Most vehicles purchased for college kids seem to fall between the price range of $2,000-10,000. But what you choose to spend is going to be completely up to you and what you can afford to pay.
Determine Your Needs
If your college kid is going to be transporting friends, cargo, dorm essentials, or extra-curricular equipment that takes up a lot of space, you might consider looking at smaller SUV’s like a Toyota RAV4 or a Honda CRV. If your child doesn’t need to haul much, and is typically riding alone or with one or two passengers, a coupe or sedan is a great option and these are typically more wallet-friendly as well.
Pull a CARFAX
Do your homework once you’ve found a vehicle that you are seriously considering purchasing. All this means is that you’re going to run the VIN number and check the background on the vehicle. The CARFAX will show you any previous accidents, dealer-performed maintenance, how many owners the vehicle has had, and so on. It’s a great place to make sure the vehicle background is as good as it looks.
Take a Test Drive
Just because you’re not spending your life savings on the vehicle doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drive it first to make sure it seems to be running well. You don’t want to have to worry about your child traveling back and forth to school in a vehicle that isn’t reliable. It also doesn’t hurt to have your mechanic check it out before purchasing as well. You could potentially save yourself some unnecessary costs by looking into things before making the leap.
Finding a great car for your college student doesn’t have to be a tough process. By taking the necessary steps, you can avoid putting the extra stress and money into a vehicle in the long run.
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