Planning
Step1
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.
Step2
Decide your price range. Be realistic.
Step3
Decide whether or not you will finance the car. Consider your financing budget.
Step4
Consider your preferred level of fuel efficiency - very old and many newer cars and trucks get surprisingly poor mileage.
Step5
Decide your annual repair budget.
Step6
Add up your total budget. Adjust as necessary or desired.
Shopping Around
Step1
Go to a newsstand or bookstore.
Step2
Get copies of free, local classified ad circulars and local daily and weekly newspapers.
Step3
Look under "Automobiles for Sale" in the classified sections.
Step4
Circle the vehicles that interest you and fit your price range.
Step5
Call the numbers listed.
Questioning the Seller
Step1
Introduce yourself on the phone.
Step2
Ask if the car is still available.
Step3
Ask for the year and model.
Step4
Ask whether it is manual or automatic.
Step5
Ask why it is being sold. If the seller doesn't give you a good reason, be wary. The car could need expensive repairs.
Step6
Ask about current or prior mechanical problems with the car, including consequences of past accidents.
Step7
Ask about the number and identities of previous owners.
Step8
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.
Step9
Arrange to see the car.
Step10
Get directions, check the date and be on time.
Step11
See the Related eHow on "How to Buy a Used Car" for subsequent steps.
Comments
exportguy said
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!
Anonymous said
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.