How to Compare Used Car Specs

Buying a used vehicle is an option if you can't afford a new car. Secondhand cars are available from new car dealers, used-only lots, classified ads and even Internet auctions. Researching safety factors and costs can help narrow your choices.

Instructions

1

Compare fuel efficiency to determine your gas costs for various used vehicles.

Fueleconomy.gov of the U.S. government allows you to search for this information by year, make and model. Edmunds.com provides discussion boards in which car owners share the actual fuel mileage they get on various makes and models. The Consumer Reports website offers a list of the used cars with the best fuel economy, sorted by price ranges.

2

Determine safety ratings of the models that interest you.

The government's Safercar.gov site allows you to see how used cars performed in crash and rollover tests. So too does the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's vehicle rating site. You can also find used car safety ratings on the website of Motor Trend Magazine.

3

Find out what you should expect to pay for a specific make and model.

The Kelley Blue Book website lets you see the suggested price when you buy from a dealership or a private party, based on the car's mileage, condition and features. The National Automobile Dealers Association also provides used car values online, as does the Edmunds website.

4

Look for recalls on the used-car models you are considering.

You can find this information at Safercar.gov and on the "Motor Trend" website. Recall details are also available on the website of Automobile Magazine.