Buying a secondhand car can you save you a lot of money over buying a new one, but only if you're careful and know what you're doing. If you spend less to buy an inferior or problematic car, you will pay more in the long run to keep it running, and you'll experience the inconvenience and frustration of having an unreliable car. Learn everything you can about a car before you buy it.
Determine Your Needs
Analyze your needs before you begin looking for a car. Having kids, a far commute, a business or hobby that involves moving large objects or how many long trips you take could all affect what type of car is best for you. In general, you can save the most money by buying the smallest car that is big enough to fulfill your needs. There's no point in owning a four-wheel drive pickup truck if the only thing you use it for is to commute to work. Resist buying on a whim and falling for superficial flash. You will thank yourself later.
Have the Car Inspected by a Mechanic
Most people buy a used car without having an expert look at it, and many of those people regret it later. Unless you are a mechanic yourself, pay an experienced mechanic to inspect your potential purchase. A mechanic can do a compression test on the cylinders, inspect the chassis, transmission, brakes and steering for wear and tear and damage and do many other things the average car buyer either couldn't do or wouldn't think to do. Dropping $100 for an hour of a mechanic's time may seem expensive, until you compare it to the multiple thousands you may spend on a used car. If the mechanic talks you out of buying a lemon, it was money well spent.
Trust Your Instincts
Buying a used car involves two parties: you and the seller. If you find you don't trust the seller, whether it is a dealer or an individual, trust your instincts and walk away. Sadly, there are sellers out there who will willfully hide problems and try to cheat a buyer. Our instincts often pick up on this dishonesty. If the seller hesitates to let you test drive the car or take it to a mechanic, walk away. There are lots of cars out there.
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