• An educated purchase of a used truck can save consumers money in the long run.truck image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com
  
  Purchasing a brand-new truck can mean opting into a lengthy payment contract with a significant interest rate. The used-truck market not only provides several more model options, but can also be a less expensive way to successfully procure a new rig. A few simple steps can be taken to insure that your used-truck purchase is a smart one.
  
  

Research

• There are a vast number of resources available both in print and electronically that rate used trucks in a variety of categories, including safety specifications, payload, engine size, passenger capacity and overall value. Take some time to consider what specific jobs you'll need your truck for, what its most common cargo will be and what driving conditions you'll use it in most. Most uneducated vehicle purchases are completed on a whim. Impulse buys can leave you with a truck that has too little or too much power and is unsuitable to your needs.
  
  

Test Drive

• Test-drive any truck and inspect it thoroughly prior to any purchase. If you are not mechanically savvy, ask the seller if you can bring it to your mechanic for a brief inspection. Obvious visible signs of engine wear include rust, fluid accumulations, smoke and engine odor. Don't be swayed by sellers who try to pass off flaws as part of the vehicle's charm. Purchasing a dilapidated vehicle can result in expensive repairs that can even cost more than the actual purchase of the vehicle.
  
  

Shop Around

• The advent of online classified ads means that you're no longer stuck with choosing a used truck from those available in your surrounding area. An entire world of used-truck choices is available through major national used-vehicle websites and auction sites. Used-car dealerships have the same profit-driven motivations behind them when conducting used-truck deals as they do with new-truck deals. If you see a truck you're interested in, consult other vendors and compare prices prior to committing to any purchase. Finding the vehicle at a lower price can increase your negotiating power.