What to do after buying a used car
Source: Pixabay
As a car buyer, your job doesn’t end after making the payment. There are a few details that you’ll need to take care of afterward.
Whether you just bought your used car and are wondering what to do next, or are curious to know before you buy one, here’s what to do after buying a used car.
Get insurance
Before you shop around for insurance, you want to find out what type of coverage is needed in your state. You may already have insurance coverage if you bought the car from a dealership. Most dealers have partnerships with various insurance providers and may provide the coverage directly as you fill in the paperwork.
If you bought your used car from a private sale, you’ll need to make a call to an insurance company of your choice and get the car insured before you hit the road. Most providers sell different types of insurance policies, so you want to make sure you understand each one. You can always add optional coverages depending on your budget and the amount of protection you want.
Some states require you to have insurance in order to transfer the title, so make sure to do this first.
NOT JUST FOR CAR SHOPPING
The CoPilot app isn’t just for buying a car - our new CoPilot for Owning tool will help you keep track of recalls and gives you advice on which scheduled maintenance tasks are most important.
Transfer the title into your name
A car’s title works as proof of ownership. It’s one of the most essential items to tick off your to-do list when buying a used car. This is because it is illegal in most states to drive a vehicle that is not properly titled. The title comes in handy whenever you need to provide legal proof that the car is indeed yours.
If you bought the car at a dealership, the dealer will most likely help you acquire a title and pay any related fees. However, if you bought the car from a private seller, you’ll need to take care of everything yourself. This involves heading over to the DMV, filing the documents, and paying the paperwork-related fees.
The requirements for title transfer vary from state to state. However, you’ll typically need the signed title, bill of sale, copies of your ID, proof of address, and loan documents if the vehicle is financed. You can check your state’s requirements on the DMV website.
FIND NEARLY-NEW & OFF-LEASE CARS
If you’re a savvy car shopper, you know that buying a ‘nearly new’ car is the best value for your money. CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars.
Get the vehicle inspected (if you haven’t already)
You should get a pre-purchase inspection BEFORE buying a car. If you’ve bought a car without getting it inspected first, do so immediately - an inspection can help you find problems with the vehicle that you weren’t able to detect during a test drive.
Most dealerships have a limited return window (usually a few days) so it’s important to get the vehicle inspected as quickly as possible before this return window runs out.
Have the mechanic do a thorough inspection of the brakes, tires, fluids, filters, wheel alignment, spark plugs, wires, transmission, and anything else they deem important. A lot of times, these need to be changed or repaired even if the car has a few miles on it. It goes a long way in ensuring your safety in the long run.
Check for recalls
It’s also important to check for any service recalls that may be out from the car manufacturer. This is especially important if you’re buying a fairly new vehicle. Service recalls are done to replace or update high-tech parts. This also improves your safety in the long run and helps you avoid costly repairs in the future.
ARE YOU ABOUT TO BUY A RECALLED VEHICLE?
Factory recalls are issued when a vehicle fails to meet safety or quality standards. If you’re shopping for a used car, see if any factory recalls have been issued before buying.
Register the vehicle
Now that you’ve taken care of the title, insurance, and vehicle inspection, it’s time to have it officially registered. Just like the title process, vehicle registration can be done on the spot if you bought the car at a dealership.
However, if you got the car through a private sale, you’ll need to take a trip to the DMV (or your local state’s equivalent). Here are some of the documents you’ll need depending on the state you live in.
What to take to the DMV to get a vehicle registered
- The vehicle title in your name
- Complete car safety inspection
- Certificate as proof that your vehicle has completed and passed an emissions test (if applicable)
- Insurance documents
- Proof that sales tax has been paid
- The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- Copies of your government-issued ID
You may need a few or all of these documents when registering your car depending on the state you live in. You can find out what is required in your state by checking out the DMV website.
Read the Owner’s Manual
The owner’s manual may be the last thing you want to read, but it’s an important tool that will help you take care of your car. It helps prolong the car’s life and ensures you get the best out of it. The best part is, you don’t have to read the manual cover to cover.
You want to find out if there are any maintenance or service recommendations put in place by the car’s manufacturer. This includes knowing when you need to rotate the tires, change the battery, and replace fluids. You also get to know what kind of engine oil is appropriate for your car and how much pressure is needed for your tires. This allows you to schedule maintenance tasks and even set aside some money for them.
In some instances, the manual may help you learn how to use some of the advanced tech features available in your car. Modern vehicles tend to have high-tech instruments and devices that are fun to play around with. They turn driving from being a monotonous experience to something you look forward to every day. You’d be amazed at how many people drive around in cars with cool features they never get to enjoy because they don’t even know about them!
Get a curated list of the best used cars near you
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars 5 years or newer with low mileage - CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices - just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
