You did not imagine that you would have to be paying attention to a certified warranty for a used car less than two weeks before Christmas. The fact that your oldest daughter got into a three car accident on the last day of November, though, means that instead of comparing the warranties on a new camera for your husband, you are instead spending your time understanding the items that re included in a certified warranty for a vehicle.
Buying another car this close to the holidays is no one’s idea of fun, but the fact that your daughter has to have a car to get to and from practice for her college gymnastics team means that you really do not have an option. The fact that the accident was ruled a no fault event at least means that you are not facing an insurance increase, so you are simply trying to find a reliable, and best value, used car or truck for her use.
You feel fortunate that your daughter was not hurt and that you had an auto maintenance plan that reimbursed you the money for your towing fees, but looking at used cars is not really anyone’s idea of how to spend the last few weeks leading up to the holidays.
Shopping for a Used Car Can be a Test of Patience
There are many people who would say that there is never a good time to have to shop for a car, new or used. The process can be both confusing and frustrating. If, however, you start with a list of priorities of the things that you are looking for you can help limit your search. If you also have a budget in mind, you can limit your search even more. Whether you are looking at used cars for college daughter or you are looking for a new vehicle for yourself, it may be important to pay attention to an available certified warranty or an online consumer report if it is available. In addition to finding a vehicle that has the accessories that you want, it is very important to make sure that you also have a thorough understanding of financing options, as well as the maintenance history of any used vehicles that you are considering.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the new and used car industry and the buying and driving habits of Americans and the impact they have on the nation’s economy:

• Although the 35% of American households have three or more vehicles, the average family owns two cars.
• In the year 2014, 88% of Americans reported that they owned a car.
• Although many buyers do internet searches at the beginning, 84% of consumers prefer to buy a car in person, according to Autotrader’s Car Buyer of the Future study.
• Three is the average number of owners a vehicle will have in its lifetime.
• 17.6 million cars and trucks were sold in the U.S. in the year 2016. This number set a record for the number of cars sold in a 12 month period.
• 75% of vehicle transactions in the U.S. involve previously owned vehicles.

This may not be the time of year that you want to find yourself looking for a vehicle, but in some cases you may be able to find a very good deal on end of the year closeout models.