You've come to the right place. For decades, Edmund's has been providing consumers like you with information to make the car-buying process flow smoothly. If you read through our advice carefully and follow the guidelines, you will be happily driving home your "new" used car with a stress-free smile on your face and some cash left in your wallet.
There are quite a few ways to buy a used car today. You can purchase a vehicle from an independent used-car lot, a new-car dealership, an auction, a used-car "superstore," or a private seller. Each situation has advantages and disadvantages, but all of them require advance planning. From whichever source you decide to buy, there are certain important factors you should know beforehand, including what is a fair price for the car, how to evaluate the condition of the car, and how to go about negotiating and actually paying a fair price. All of this and more is covered in the following pages.
Not to dissuade you, but buying a used car obviously carries a certain degree of risk. After all, with a new car you get the peace of mind that no one has driven the vehicle carelessly or failed to have it maintained on a regular basis. And, if something does go wrong, the car is under warranty--at least for a period of time. These safeties are not usually included in the purchase of a used car. But used-car buying need not be as fraught with anxiety and terror as some may think. Knowing where and how to buy a used car as well as which cars to buy can alleviate most of the tension consumers feel about this unknown process. If you are willing to spend time doing thorough research, you will soon be driving the car of your dreams, secure in the knowledge that you paid a fair price for your new set of wheels.
