I don't know loads about cars but here are some tips that have served me well in the past. Note than I'm based in the UK but most of these should still be rele

I don't know loads about cars but here are some tips that have served me well in the past. Note than I'm based in the UK but most of these should still be relevant. I always buy used cars as when you buy a new car it loses around 20% of it's value as soon as you drive it of the showroom forecourt. 1. Do your background checks on the car to make sure it's not stolen and to get a good idea about it's history. In the UK the car has to have an MOT each year to prove it's road worthy (you may have something similar in the US). This info is available online in the UK and shows when it passed and if there were any advisories. No advisories is ideal. 2. Only buy a car if the seller has paperwork that show it's service history. If a car has been serviced regularly it shows it's been looked after. 3. Inspect the body work to see if there are any signs of damage or if there are any panels are a slightly different colour. If a panel is a slightly different colour it's a telltale sign it's been in an accident. 4. Try to buy a car with as few previous owners as possible. If a car has been passed around to lots of different owners there's a higher chance it hasn't been looked after. 5. Check similar cars online to get a good idea of price and always haggle. 6. Never buy a car without taking it for a test drive. I'm guessing you're buying an automatic so check the car goes through the gears smoothly and there are no knocks etc. Make sure when you start the engine that the car is starting from cold and that it hasn't been warming up before you got there. Take your hands of the wheel to make sure the car doesn't drift of to the side as this is a sign something is wrong. Check underneath the car when you've done to check for oil / coolant leaks etc. Check the brakes and steering etc (there's lots more I could list but this is a basic idea. 7. Finally if you're not happy with it for any reason walk away. You are under no obligation to buy it so don't feel pressured into making a bad purchase. Hope this helps