According to Edmunds.com, in 2008, about 36.5 million used vehicles were sold in comparison with 13.2 million new cars. Part of the reason for the steep decline in a new car’s value is because the value of the first year of ownership from 20-30 percent.

However, it can be difficult to pick out the best used car for you at a used auto sale. Read on about tips and advice that will help through the process.

The first step is to figure out how much you are willing to spend. If you find out this figure first, you can then arrange financing before you go to the dealership. This puts you in a stronger negotiation position.

There have been improved availability of loans which has played a great role in this recent success. You can arrange financing easily by filling out an application online. The lender will call you and within minutes will let you know if a load has been approved. The lender then sends a check which can be made payable to any new car deader and is usually good for 30 days. If the check is not used within the 30 day period, there is no obligation.

Research is showing that now is the best time to purchase a new or used car. Recently, there were three strong months pertaining to sales. According to president of the Palmen Automotive Group, “We’re not selling what we used to sell, but the new sales are definitely increasing. Steadily coming back is the best way to say it.”