Lots of us have that dream of hitting the highway in a souped-up convertible, the wind blowing through our hair while the stereo blasts.

Now, imagine this same scenario with a family of five plus an 80-pound Labrador. While we're here to help make dreams reality, we're also committed to pairing you with a used car you'll be happy to own for years.

An exercise that might help you is to sit down and answer the following questions:

• How much cargo space do I regularly need?
• What's my daily commute like?
• Is parking an issue in my neighborhood?
• Am I the only person who drives my car?
• What tech features are going to be most useful?

Whether you're on a strict budget or have some financial wiggle room, it's a smart idea to decide your price before walking into the dealership.

Remember, a typical auto loan lasts between 24 to 48 months. This means you should find a payment you'll be comfortable paying month after month for this period of time.

Two areas drivers sometimes overlook is the insurance and maintenance costs. These should also factor into your overall budget when picking out a used car, truck or SUV. If you're looking for expert advice, our finance center is always ready to help!

Using your laptop or smartphone, browse our online galley of used cars, trucks, and SUVs before seeing them in person. Here, you can use search filters to narrow your results based on price, mileage, standard features, and more!

Want to know a specific vehicle's backstory? Our team can provide you with an Autocheck Vehicle History Report for any used car on our lot. This can help you decide whether a used car meets your standards before you take a test drive.

If you have any additional questions, contact our team of friendly consultants online, over the phone, or by visiting our showroom.

Once you're standing in front of the used car, take a look at the exterior before stepping behind the wheel.

Do all the exterior lights work? Are there any noticeable signs of window cracks, dents or scratches? Are the tires in decent condition? You also should make it a point to look inside the cargo area and underneath the vehicle.

Once you're sitting behind the wheel, take note of the instrument panel. Do you see any maintenance or warning lights? How does the engine sound while idling? Is it quick to start?

Turn on the radio and make sure each speaker is working. You also should check every knob and button inside the cabin properly functions along with the AC system.