Family Car Totaled? 4 Tips for Finding a Reliable Replacement

We all know that vehicle accidents happen every day, but no one likes to think about it happening to them. You can’t predict when you will be involved in a traffic accident. You also don’t know if your car will be totaled and in need of a quick, reliable replacement. If you find yourself in that predicament, here are some tips for finding a new care to replace your totaled one.

Identify Your Needs

Before you can physically start to search for a replacement vehicle, you need to have a list of criteria that you’ll utilize during your shopping experience. Take a few moments to write down your must-haves. This will include things like a specific number of seating and certain safety features you don’t want to go without. Put the things that are necessary first, then add the things that you desire to the bottom if your list. Getting your claim can take a little while, so let your car accident attorney take care of your claim while you plan ahead.

Do Some Research

Unless you already have a specific model of car in mind, you’ll need to do some research to find the perfect replacement vehicle. Look for vehicles that match the features that you marked down as must-haves for your family. You’ll also want to evaluate dependability, warranties, and so forth. There are various online websites that you can use to get this information such as Autotrader and Edmunds.

Search for Used Vehicles

You’ll need to understand what your budget is. In many cases, you’ll need to search for a used vehicle as the price is in a more affordable range. You can find used vehicles at dealerships, on open listing websites like Craigslist, and used car websites like Autotrader. When you buy a used car, make sure you do your research on the model and on the car itself. Know how reliable the model tends to be and how long it lasts. You should also have the car inspected and do a vehicle history report.

Be Proactive

One key factor to keep in mind when it comes to finding a good car is that they go fast. You have to be actively looking for a vehicle each day to be able to respond first. It’s not uncommon for vehicles to be listed in the morning and be sold by mid-afternoon. Actively searching listing sites multiple times per day can ensure that you’re one of the first people to get access to a car when it’s listed.

While the idea of trying to find a replacement car for your totaled one can seem like a difficult task, it doesn’t have to be. As long as you utilize the helpful tips above, you’ll be well on your way to finding your new ride. Realize that taking action now will get a car in your driveway much faster.