How to Shop for a Used Car

Ask your friends, check out the newspapers and search for the perfect used vehicle from a private party.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Kelley Blue Book
• Calculators
• Telephones
• Local Newspapers
• Used-car Classifieds
• Spiral Notebooks
• Kelley Blue Book
• Calculators

Planning

1. Decide what you need the car for - daily commuting, recreation, weekends and evenings, carrying cargo, carrying two or more people, city driving or suburban and rural driving.

2. Decide your price range. Be realistic.

3. Decide whether or not you will finance the car. Consider your financing budget.

4. Consider your preferred level of fuel efficiency - very old and many newer cars and trucks get surprisingly poor mileage.

5. Decide your annual repair budget.

6. Add up your total budget. Adjust as necessary or desired.

Shopping Around

7. Go to a newsstand or bookstore.

8. Get copies of free, local classified ad circulars and local daily and weekly newspapers.

9. Look under "Automobiles for Sale" in the classified sections.

10. Circle the vehicles that interest you and fit your price range.

11. Call the numbers listed.

Questioning the Seller

12. Introduce yourself on the phone.

13. Ask if the car is still available.

14. Ask for the year and model.

15. Ask whether it is manual or automatic.

16. Ask why it is being sold. If the seller doesn't give you a good reason, be wary. The car could need expensive repairs.

17. Ask about current or prior mechanical problems with the car, including consequences of past accidents.

18. Ask about the number and identities of previous owners.

19. Ask if the car is still under manufacturer's warranty, whether that warranty is transferable and if the owner has any service records to show that the car has been maintained properly in the past.

20. Arrange to see the car.

21. Get directions, check the date and be on time.

22. See the Related eHow on "How to Buy a Used Car" for subsequent steps.

[sexygirl984]

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[exportguy]

on 1/8/2008 I suggest saving about $2000 and then go to several dealers and tell them you want to buy a used car for $2000. Eventually you will find a good one. Then instead of making a $400 payment every month, put that $400 every month in one of dozens of mutual funds that earn more than 10% a year. Then after 2 years, check your fund. You'll have about $12,000. With 1/2 of that you can find an even better used car for cash. Sell the $2000 car for $500 then you'll have $6000 still in your account. Then continue to put $400 every month into the account. Then in 2 more years you should have about $20,000 in there. You sell your $6000 car for $2500, then with 1/2 the money in your account you can buy a nice $12,000 car. In 2 more years you can afford, and even better car. the NEXT car after that, you can buy a new Mercedes For Cash!

on 11/22/2005 The federal laws pertaining to odometer certification only protects for 10 years. I just bought a car showing 55,000 that I later found out through Carfax it had 85,000 on it in 1994. Get the VIN, and do the research before buying.