Let’s face it! There is a difference between buying a new car and a used one, one of the most important being that the new car has not been driven by anyone else except you. It has a warranty which applies for a period of time so repairs can come under that. In a used car, you don’t have any of these benefits, but still it is not the worst lot for a car. You will be surprised at how some of the best deals come with used cars. The trick is to know where and how to buy a used car, and of course, to know which cars to buy.

The first thing you need to think about before you buy a used car is your budget…. how much are you ready to spend for the car? This includes insurance, operation, maintenance and repair costs. You also need to be sure about the reason for buying a used car… what will you use the car for and how long you are going to keep it? The answers to these questions are what will determine the make and the model of the car you choose.

Check out the features of different car makes and their models on the internet. Once you have decided on what make or model you want….look into sites that give you rates for used cars, for example NADA.com. This way you know the market value of a car given its make, model and year. Usually the best deal is to get a car that’s about 3 to 5 years old and that’s been well-handled by the previous owner.

Now you need to look for a car that satisfies you on all these criteria and which fits your budget. Check out the different car dealers in your locality… references from family and friends will help here. Go to the dealer you have selected and find out if they have a car with the make, model, year combination, you are looking for. If you have zeroed in on a car that clears on all the points you are looking out for, you need to do one more thing before you finalize the deal ….. Check the car’s history.

In order to get information on a used car’s history, order a CARFAX Vehicle History Report as this provides you information on the real condition of the car. If the car history is clean and there is nothing to worry about on the condition of the car, go ahead and finish the deal.

Summary

There are a couple of details you should gather before you buy a used car, so that you get the best deal and a car that’s really worth your money.