Top 10 Tips for Used Car Buying

Get an outside opinion.
After you decide on the vehicle you want, tell the seller that you want to take it to your mechanic for a check up. Go to a certified mechanic and get a thorough checkup. Since he’s not selling the car, there is no reason for him to hedge on the health of the vehicle. Be wary of fraudulent, criminal dealers, commonly known as "curbstoners," who offer vehicles through newspaper ads or in shopping center parking lots and may disguise themselves as individual sellers. The cars offered may be stolen or damaged, and their odometers may be rolled back.

Understand warranty information.
Under the Federal Trade Commission's Used Car Rule, all sellers of used cars (except private owners), are required to place a large sticker called a "Buyers Guide" in the window of their used cars, light-duty vans and light-duty trucks. The Buyers Guide (www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/buyers.pdf) tells you whether the vehicle comes with a warranty and, if so, which systems are covered, how long coverage applies, and what percent of repair costs the dealer will pay.


The Buyers Guide also alerts you when a car is being sold with implied warranties only, or with no warranty at all ("as is"). Once you complete a purchase of a car “as is” and drive it off the lot, the dealer has no further responsibility for the car. Be sure to sign the Buyers Guide and request a copy for your records.

Check the paperwork.
Ask to see all the repair records for the vehicle. If you are negotiating with a private party and they have no records, it should give you pause. Go to the Federal Trade Commission for info on how to avoid the usual flimflam schemes (www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/buyers.pdf). Also check the seller or dealership against the Better Business Bureau in your area to be sure their reputation is a good one.

Research certified pre-owned (CPO).
Used vehicles with less than 50,000 miles are given multipoint inspections with any service or upkeep done before the vehicle hits dealer lots. These programs are backed by the automakers and often include a no-cost extended warranty on major parts such as the engine and transmission. These are usually the cream of the used car crop and they are usually more expensive.