There are a lot of people who opt to buy a used car for their first bought and owned vehicle. After all, the value of that shiny new car will depreciate the moment you drive off with it from the lot, whereas oftentimes, a well maintained used car can be sold for a well comparable amount that you bought it for, especially if it has been used less and lightly and also hasn’t piled on the miles. Used car prices are definitely cheaper than new cars, and this is especially true if you opt for a private sale between you and the car owner.

Your daily newspaper, local weekly circulars, and local magazines are sure to have a classifieds section that features used cars for sale. Then there’s the internet of course websites devoted to used car sales abound, alongside those that have a wide range of classifieds displayed. You can surely find a lot of used cars at the prices that you can afford without having to break the bank, and you can narrow it down by your choice of make, model, vintage, and of course, most important, the used car prices.

You can also request a vehicle history report using the car’s VIN and registration, to assure yourself of the car’s antecedents and confirm what the owner is telling you with regard to whether the car has ever been in an accidents, whether it has ever had a lien on it, and whether it is currently insured and in the clear to be sold.

Check for basics like the baldness of the tires, the strength of the brakes, how the steering wheel handles, whether there is any funny sound or reverberations. This will ensure to some extent that you are buying a car in decent condition and it is not going to need repairs the moment it exchanges hands. However, there really can be no guarantee, given that it is a used car, and part of purchasing it from a private owner, means you accept it in as is condition.