Reader’s Question:

What do I need to look for when buying a used car? And are there insurance companies willing to give used car insurance quotes for free?

Kristine

Philadelphia, PA

Since you are still shopping for a second-hand car, it would be good to obtain used car insurance quotes, so that you have a general idea of how your car of choice will be rated by insurers. Companies have a devised a system of categorizing cars to help them figure out the insurance risk of each type of vehicle. The higher the category the car belongs in, the more expensive its premiums will be. So, get a low-category car.

Although this information will never be made available to you, it is safe to assume that cars that have low performance engines get to be rated with affordable rates. Just make sure that when you buy that used car, check the accident history and mileage. The first one is important as car insurance companies will definitely look into the car’s record. If it had been involved in numerous accidents in the past, then chances are the vehicle is not that safe and will be perceived as a huge insurance risk. Mileage, on the other hand, while not a very good indication of vehicle reliability, will be important to note, as well. Buy one that has run not more than a thousand miles in a year. Your best choice would be a three-year-old car that has a mileage of not more than 30,000. Anything beyond that must have been used in a business operation or was driven hard. You can get used car insurance quotes for free and without obligation from various car insurance company websites.