Tips For Buying A Used Car In Mississippi

Buying a used car can be a great financial move, but you need to ensure you're getting a good deal. Some sellers are less than reputable, so it's important to shop around, research carefully, and ask questions before purchasing. 

In this article, we'll discuss six top tips for buying used Mississippi vehicles so you don’t get taken advantage of.

6 Tips For Buying Used Mississippi Cars

1. Shop Around

You have a lot of options when buying used cars in Mississippi, and some of the best starting points are listed below:

• Private sellers — Buying a vehicle through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist from private owners could be great if you have a specific car in mind. However, you'll need to be okay with vetting the seller and vehicle yourself.
• Dealerships — Shopping in person at a dealership gives you access to expert assistance.
• Online retailers — Shopping online lets you browse a massive selection of vehicles. However, you might not be able to test drive before purchasing.

2. Ask Questions

When you find a vehicle (or two) you're interested in, it's important to ask questions like:

• Does the vehicle come with a warranty? How much of the warranty is left? Can you extend the policy?
• Does the vehicle have a clean title?
• How many owners has the vehicle had?
• Are the service or maintenance records for the car available?
• Are the owner's manuals inside the car?
• Where did the vehicle come from?
• How many keys does the vehicle come with?
• Does the vehicle come with a spare tire? If not, where is it?
• Does the car have floor mats?

3. Inspect Carefully

After asking questions, you should inspect the vehicle carefully. Here are the most important things to do:

• Check for rust
• Listen to the vehicle while test driving to weed out any squeaks, clunks, or rattles
• Look at the ground to check for leaks
• Watch somebody drive the vehicle in a straight line to uncover suspension or body damage

If you can, bring a qualified mechanic you trust with you to take a quick look under the hood.

4. Research Fully

Once you've short-listed a few vehicles, visit AutoCheck or Carfax to pull vehicle history reports using the cars' identification numbers. You may not need to do this if you're using a dealership, but it's a must-do step when purchasing from private sellers. Dealerships should have vehicle histories readily available upon request.

On top of that, you could consider speaking to the car's previous owner when buying from a dealer. That way, you can learn more about the car's service history and uncover any issues you wouldn't otherwise know. You can find the previous owner's contact details on the car's title or use the VIN to find its last owner.

You should also have the car independently inspected by a certified mechanic. If they uncover any problems, you can ask the seller to cover the repair costs or decrease the selling price.

5. Know The Common Red Flags

Some prominent red flags to look out for when buying a used car include the following:

• Private sellers who attempt to rush you into buying the vehicle
• Private dealers or sellers that won't allow you to conduct a pre-purchase inspection on the vehicle
• Cars with salvage titles (i.e., the insurance company has deemed it a total loss)
• Vehicle history reports with little to no maintenance records

Feel free to ask more questions about salvage titles or limited maintenance records. But if you're dealing with pushy private sellers or dealers who won't allow a pre-purchase inspection, your best option is to walk away.

6. Understand Mississippi Laws

Provided you're happy with the vehicle and believe you're getting a good deal, the process of purchasing should run smoothly. However, educate yourself on Mississippi's laws to ensure compliance. 

The Title Transfer Process is perhaps the most critical aspect here. When you buy Mississippi cars, the title will need to be transferred into your name within 30 days of purchase. Thankfully, the process is quite simple — the previous owner signs it over and you take it to the local tax collector's office to finish the transfer. 

Beyond that, you'll need to acquire at least the minimum insurance coverages, which are as follows:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 for property damage

The Benefits Of Buying A Used Car

The benefits of buying a used vehicle go beyond a great deal. By purchasing a used car outright, you gain access to financial vehicles like title loans that let you borrow money when you need it most. 

Whether it's medical bills, veterinary fees, or another financial emergency, you can use the value of your vehicle to borrow between $300 and $2,500 from a Mississippi Title Loans, Inc. title loan. You need your vehicle, a lien-free title, and state-issued identification to gain approval; you don't need a good credit score! 

If approved, you get to keep your vehicle and get the cash you need as soon as the same day or the next business day.

Get A Loan From Mississippi Title Loans Inc. Today!

If an emergency strikes after buying a used car, you can get a title loan from us to cover the costs. The process is quite simple, in most cases, it will only take about 30 minutes to qualify.

To get started now use the online request form to submit your basic information and one of our representatives we'll call you back to discuss the rest.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.