There are many purchases in our lifetimes that will cost a pretty penny. For example, purchasing a home, furniture, or even a vacation can be quite costly, and your wallet may suffer. However, not all purchases have to take such a toll on your finances, and one example of this is purchasing a used car.

Used cars can be a great option for your family as they offer a lot of bang for their buck without being too harsh on your wallet. But, there are plenty of different options when it comes to used car dealerships, that it can seem exceptionally overwhelming when picking out the right family car. In order to ensure you are picking out a great car, there are a few things you should do when down on the lot. Make sure to do the following when you’re choosing, and you’ll for sure drive off with the best car for your family.

Look under the hood

A lot of people focus on the interior of their car, but they don’t look under the hood to see where it really matters. You’ll want to check that everything is in tip top shape under the engine before you drive off the lot or you may have a huge problem down the line. Look for wear and tear on the belts, any leaks, or any rust. If you have any doubts about what anything is supposed to look like, don’t hesitate to contact a reliable mechanic to come down to the car dealership and come give it a good look.

Take a test drive, but with a twist

A general test drive includes driving around some side roads and then calling it a day. But with a used car, you’ll want to do something a little bit more in depth, such as driving on the highway to make sure the car speeds up correctly, parking the car on a side street then pulling up to see if there are any fluid leaks, or even backing up to see if there are any blind spots.

If you make sure to do these two things, your used car will feel like a new car in absolutely no time at all! Taking caution to go in depth with your transaction will ensure you have a great car for the years to come.