Shopping for a used car is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Used car dealerships often have a large inventory of used cars for sale, which offers you plenty of options to choose from. But where do you start, and how do you decide? Whitten Brothers Automotive is a top new and used car dealership in central Virginia with more than 100 years of history in the automotive industry. We want the car shopping process to be fun and stress-free, so we’ve put together this guide to help you find a reliable used car in Richmond, VA, or Ashland, VA.
Safety: There are several factors to consider when determining if a vehicle is reliable or not. One of the biggest is safety. Driving a safe vehicle not only protects you but also gives you peace of mind on the road. When shopping for a used car, truck, van, or SUV, look for one that comes with a comprehensive suite of vehicle safety features and driver assistance technologies.
As you start researching used cars, we recommend checking the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) websites for safety ratings. The NHTSA is a federal agency within the Department of Transportation, and the IIHS is an independent, nonprofit organization. Both are committed to automotive safety. To evaluate the safety of vehicles, cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs undergo a range of crash tests. The safest vehicles are awarded a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a 4-star or 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
Maintenance: Another indicator of vehicle reliability is how easy and affordable it is to maintain. You want to ensure that any previous owners kept up with routine car care. You also want to ensure that you can do the same. Find out how much the average service appointment costs, in addition to the cost of parts, tires, and repairs. Vehicles that are well-maintained can often be driven for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Design: The design of a vehicle goes hand in hand with the two factors above. A well-designed car, truck, van, or SUV will likely also be very safe to drive and easy to maintain. Look for vehicles that have strong, but fuel-efficient, engines and a solid, durable frame and exterior.
1. Research brands and vehicle types: As we noted, the first step is to do your own research. Figure out what type of vehicle you want – car, truck, van, or SUV – then start researching brands. We recommend exploring brand websites and reading brand reviews.
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates are two highly respected sources that make it easy to research car reliability. Consumer Reports publishes annual reliability brand rankings, and J.D. Power publishes its U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. You can use these resources to help you
2. Research specific vehicles: Once you have one or more brands you like, start researching individual vehicles. For example, if you want an SUV and you’re interested in Jeep and Mazda, take a look at what vehicles are included in their SUV lineups. As you start learning about individual vehicles, remember to find out what standard vehicle safety features they have and check the safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA.
(Note: Keep your budget in mind as you start to research vehicles to avoid falling in love with one that’s outside your price range!)
3. Research dealerships: Now that you have an idea of the brand and type of vehicle you want, start researching dealerships. You’ll want to work with a dealership that has a strong reputation and puts the customer first. For example, at Witten Brothers Automotive, every customer gets to experience The Whitten Advantage. As you research used car dealerships, you can start exploring their used vehicle inventory as well. This will tell you if they have the car, truck, van, or SUV you’re looking for in stock.
4. Take test drives: The next step is to visit the dealership and test drive any vehicles you’re interested in. Taking a test drive is the ideal way to know if a car, truck, van, or SUV is the right fit for you. You can also discuss the vehicles in greater detail with a knowledgeable Sales Advocate to learn more about the different features. Be sure to ask about the vehicle history, service records, and any previous accidents and repairs.
5. Make an informed decision: You can now make an informed decision about purchasing a used vehicle. When you’ve found a reliable used car, truck, van, or SUV that meets your needs, fits your budget, and feels like a good fit, the next step is to start the car-buying process!
Now that you know what makes for the best car reliability and how to find the most reliable used car for you, it’s time to begin! Whitten Brothers Automotive has three dealerships in Richmond, VA, and Ashland, VA. We sell new Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM vehicles. We also sell used vehicles from all major automotive brands, including Mazda, CDJR, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, and Tesla.
We invite you to explore our used vehicle inventory online, then contact us to learn more or to schedule a showroom visit. We also offer financing pre-approvals and help arrange auto financing in-house. We accept trade-in vehicles, and we always have a rotation of used vehicle specials to help you save!