When you’re looking at used cars, there are things you can do to make sure the vehicle you’re buying is in good shape. By taking a few minutes to look under the hood, you can hopefully catch some potential problems and prevent certain maintenance issues down the road.

First, get a bird’s eye view of the engine. If certain parts are cleaner than others, they may have been replaced. If the engine is significantly cleaner or dirtier than the parts around it, the engine may have been replaced. It is common for water pumps and alternators to be replaced at around 80,000 miles or so.

The next thing that you will want to do is look at the oil level. If you’re buying the car from a used car dealership, chances are good that the oil will have already been changed. Still, you wnat to make sure it’s not black, dirty or gritty. You’ll also want to look down the pipe where you add engine oil with a flashlight to see if the inside looks burned.

You’ll also want to look at the hoses and belts on a used car. You want them to be in good condition. They shouldn’t be cracked or show other sines of wear.

The engine coolant should usually be green in color, and it should not be rusty. You’ll check other fluids, too, like the transmission fluid, which should be red in color.

When it comes time to get a used car, you have to think about how you want to pay for it. The first option, of course, is to pay cash for the vehicle. There are some specific advantages to paying for the vehicle up front like this. The biggest advantage, of course, is that you’ll pay less for the vehicle over time because you won’t have to pay interest on the car loan.

Most people, however, need some form of financing when they buy used cars. Financing can take many forms, from a bank or credit union loan to financing offered by the dealership. If you finance the vehicle, understand that you’re going to pay more for the car over time. You need to know several pieces of information before you agree to finance a vehicle, including:

• The price of the vehicle
• The dollar amount to be financed
• The finance charge (the dollar amount the financing will cost you)
• The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of the loan
• The number of payments you’ll have to make on the vehicle
• The amount of your payments
• The overall price, including down payment, monthly payments, and any other fees.

Having all of this information up front helps you to know if you can really afford the vehicle, or if you need to consider purchasing a less expensive used car.

One of the reasons that you’re buying a used car is because you can’t or don’t want to pay full price for a new car. Just because you’re not paying new car prices, however, doesn’t mean that you have to pay as much as the dealer is asking for used cars. It’s important to negotiate the price so that you can get the best car for the money.

One of the things you can do to negotiate the price of a used car is to start off by negotiating the total price of the vehicle. There are things like tax and title fees that you want to keep in mind, partly so you don’t go over your budget. Ask the dealer to figure out the total “out the door” price on the vehicle, and negotiate that price.

Make the dealer a lower offer. If the sticker says $15,000, offer $12,000. The dealer isn’t going to throw you off the lot for offering too little or laugh at you. If they believe you’re interested in buying the vehicle, they’ll come off the price.

If a dealer or salesperson promises a deal, make sure to get it in writing. If the dealer offers to put new tires on the vehicle, for example, make sure that’s in writing. In addition, make sure that you and the dealer agree on the type of tires, as well. Make sure you know the warranty policy on the vehicle, and that you get it in writing as well.

Buying a used car definitely has its rewards, but it has its risks too. You want to get a quality used car that’s going to last, and you don’t want to pay too much for it. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to remove risk from the used car buying process.

First off, you want to know what you’re looking for. Figure out what kind of used car you’re looking for, right down to the model and year. Try to select several options so that you can find what you want. This allows you to narrow the options and keeps you from winding up with a car that won’t meet your needds. In addition, it gives you a chance to research potential problems with the vehicle as well as the market value.

You also want to check a car’s history. A car history report, such as those available from CarFax, can often tell you if a vehicle has been through a disaster or in a serious accident. This also lets you know if there’s an outstanding lien against the vehicle.

Make sure you read and understand all of the paperwork involved in buying your used car, too. Know what the dealer’s warranty is. If you’re buying a certified used vehicle, ask to see the inspection reports, as well.

Ultimately, just a few simple steps can save you all sorts of risk when it comes to buying a used car.

Once you’ve visited a dealership, found a used car you’re interested in buying and taken it for a test drive, it’s time to finalize the deal. Here are a few things you can do to make sure that you come out ahead:

• Make sure you know the market value of the vehicle. You can do this with Kelly Blue Book data, and you can check the price of that particular year and make at other dealerships in town, if there are any.
• If there are other dealerships with the same type of vehicle, you may be able to save even more money on your used car by getting them to compete with one another. This may reduce the cost by $200 or $300.
• Schedule a specific time for you to get your car. This lets the dealership get the vehicle gassed up and washed. You may even be able to get them to prepare your paperwork ahead of time so there isn’t as much waiting.
• Inspect the vehicle and take it for one more test drive. Make sure that there aren’t any scratches or dents since you first inspected the vehicle.
• Review the details of your contract, to make sure it’s what you’ve discussed. Be ready to consider aftermarket items, as well as an extended warranty.

By doing these simple things, you can make sure you’ve got the best used car for your needs, and at the best price.