| Almost every adult, in this country, is going to buy or | | | | have a CarFax or AutoCheck report run you MUST |
| sell a used car, or do both, in their lifetime. Learning | | | | run one yourself. |
| how to avoid all the used car landmines can be a very | | | | 4) Read the CarFax/AutoCheck for the car. You can |
| valuable skill set to have. Just about every problem, | | | | NOT buy a used car without reading one of these |
| you can imagine when buying a used car, can be | | | | reports - there are way too many scams going on |
| turned into a positive outcome for you; if you do your | | | | with the title, the odometer, the repair history for you to |
| homework. A lot of common sense will make this | | | | just "wing it". Once a car passes the CarFax |
| journey less frightful and even enjoyable. | | | | AutoCheck you must inspect the car from hood to |
| 1) Budget. Set up a realistic budget and stick to it. Don't | | | | trunk and know what you are doing. |
| be tempted to spend more - try to spend less than | | | | 5) Inspect the car. Whether the car sits in the used car |
| your budget. Move that money into a bank account | | | | dealer's lot or in the driveway of a private sale you |
| where you can quickly convert it into cash since most | | | | must do a 100+ point inspection of the car. This check |
| private used car sales are done in cash. This is a | | | | covers the engine, the undercarriage, the trunk, and the |
| chicken-and-egg problem since you may have to do | | | | interior. Bring a magnet and flashlight which will be put |
| research first but come up with a number that you | | | | to good use. The magnet sticks to steel body parts |
| must NOT exceed. | | | | and falls off if the car has had repair work. The |
| 2) Do your homework. There are plenty of places, on | | | | flashlight is used everywhere to look for all kinds of |
| the Internet, to quickly and easily get information and | | | | inspection points which must pass. If the car passes |
| prices of used cars. Any public library has free | | | | your inspection it's time to take a test drive. |
| computer terminals to the internet and all kinds of | | | | 6) Test drive the car. Listen to how the car starts and |
| subscriptions that they pay for - use them. Find out the | | | | idles. Check the A/C, the radios, power windows and |
| Blue Book price or use a Car Cloud to quickly find | | | | locks, wipers, rear window defogger and all lights. If |
| makes, models, and years of used cars that fit into | | | | everything is in working order take the car for a spin |
| your budget. Arm yourself before you go shopping. | | | | around the block and down the highway. Listen for |
| 3) Shop Smart. Walking into a used car dealership | | | | weird noises, smells, and vibrations. |
| without doing any kind of research or a budget is | | | | If you've done the above six items and the car passes |
| asking for trouble. You know the salesrep is going to | | | | your tests then an auto mechanic is your last stop. |
| ask "What's it going to take for you to buy today" and | | | | Expect to pay the mechanic $100+ to hook up |
| its downhill from there. Come armed with an idea of | | | | computers and run all his diagnostic tests. If the |
| the models and years your budget allows. If the car, | | | | mechanic give the thumbs up you can now proceed |
| whether a private sale or thru a dealership, does not | | | | and make an offer to buy the car. |