I’ve had some experience with automobiles through my life, actually, one could say a great deal of experience as years ago I was a certified mechanic. Yep, that is correct, times were really hard for me and my family and I was asked by my husband to see if I could acquire a job to help pay the bills. I did, but the one I ended up with was not exactly what I had planned on doing at any point in my life. I was a parts person for a auto store.

I was the one that people called or came to with the car problems they needed fixing, sometimes it was only a simple new part that they knew they needed and requested. But either way I learned a great deal when I had to take a course in auto mechanics to become certified as one.

Not only did the class help me keep my job, but it also has helped me deal with my own automobiles. So what does any of this have to do with buying a used car?

It has plenty to do with it. For one I realized that sometimes people can mistakenly think their car has seen its best days and trade that car in for a new one. When it was something simple that the dealer fixed and then turns around and sells it much lower than a new one would cost but just as good.

A few years ago I decided to buy another car as the one I was driving did not get very good gas mileage. This is what I did when I started shopping around.

Step 1

Take your time! Do not buy the first automobile that catches your fancy. While most used cars that I have bought have been very good for the money, some people do not have that good of luck. Most of the time it is due to hurrying through and just taking the first one that catches your eye and matches what you can afford.

Step 2

Ask Questions
Do not be afraid to ask questions about the automobile once you find one that interests you. Ask them to lift the hood and let you see the engine. Is it clean? Are the fluid levels full? What size is the engine? (Usually you can find this either stamped on the top of the engine or on a sticker somewhere under the hood.) Is this the original engine? Do they have the service records?

Then, if you are still happy. Check the oil in the car. Does it look very dark in color? Does it have a soured smell? Does it appear milky? Any of these can indicate either a serious problem with the engine or neglect. If oil appears milky, that means water may be getting into it. If it appears really dark, then someone may not have kept up with the regular oil changes. If it smells, then the car might have been run hot, which can cause a host of problems.

I not only asked questions to the person selling the car, but I also asked people I knew if they has ever owned a car like the one I was thinking of buying.

Step 3

Okay, you have searched around, found the car that you can afford. You have checked under the hood, even looked at the oil. So far, everything looks good. Now you need to check the tires, wiper blades, and give the car and good looking over. If you think it may have been wrecked, then tap lightly on the side and keep tapping around that same area. Sometimes I have found where the paint and body shop has used a filler product to fill in dents before they painted over them to make the car look like it was never wrecked. The tone of the tap will sound flat when you tap body filler that the paint shop has applied to a wrecked car or truck.

Keep in mind anything you find that may need to be repaired, will cost you out of pocket money. So a cheap car that is going to need new tires or other things may end up costing you more money as you pay for a new set of tires.

Step 4

Test drive the car.
Does it crank easily? Are the seats comfortable to you? When you press the breaks, does it want to pull to one side?

All these things can help you decide if this car is worth your money. If the car pulls to one side when pressing the break, there might be something major wrong.

Also remember not to run the stereo if it has one while test driving the car. While listening to music is enjoyable while driving, you can not drive a stereo so if the car is not running very well, you may want to reconsider.


Now, if you follow these steps, you will have a better chance at getting your moneys worth. I am sure there are probably things I have missed in this list, however, my best advice is to use good common sense when deciding which used car to choose.

Oh, by the way, I am even rougher when shopping for a new car because that is where a lot of people get taken. Paying big money for a new car, and then finding out it is not so great of a car.

Good luck in your shopping and happy driving!