If you buy a used vehicle that has been well cared for, has low mileage and is less than three years old, you will pay thousands of dollars less than if you bought new, and get a vehicle that is nearly as good. Keep your wits about you when buying a used vehicle; be willing to walk away if the price isn't right, and you will eventually find what you want.
Inspect the Title
Take a good long look at the title for the vehicle before you buy it. If there is anything strange about it, have it verified by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The likelihood that the title has been tampered with is small, but it's better to be overly cautious than to get burned with an illegal vehicle. If the seller says he doesn't have a title, or says he will send it to you later, walk away quickly.
Test Drive
You are buying a vehicle to use, so use it before you buy it. Any reputable seller will let you take the vehicle out for at least a couple of hours. Drive it at high speed on the highway, in traffic through town, on rough roads and on smooth roads. Park it in tight spots and take it around sharp corners. Try to fit everything that you might do with the vehicle into the test drive, so you can determine how it behaves in different conditions. The test drive is the most important step in the process of buying a used vehicle.
Buy What You Need
Be honest with yourself about how much car you really need and you can save a lot of money. Every city has a large number of people driving around in full-size 4x4 pickup trucks that have never seen a log or a bale of hay. A sensible car buyer buys a truck when he needs a truck, and a car when he needs a car. By buying a car that fulfills your needs without being larger than it has to be, you will not only save money on the selling price, but also on fuel and maintenance costs.
Haggle
Don't be shy about offering less if you feel that the price of the car you want is too high. Most sellers expect buyers to haggle about the price and set their price accordingly. If the seller refuses to come down on the price, it's very easy to walk away. There are many cars in the world and you can certainly find one that isn't overpriced. On the other hand, if you feel the car is underpriced, buy it and be happy.
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