Check out the seller. For car dealers, check with the state or local consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau. Whene buying from an individual, check the title to make sure the seller is also the vehicle owner. Also browse the classifieds for other auto ads with the same phone number as it may be a sign of an unlicensed broker who sells used cars by posing as the owner.

Take a test drive. Drive at different speeds and check for smooth right and left turns. On a straight stretch, make sure the vehicle doesn’t pull to one side.

Handle trade-ins and financing separately from your purchase to get the best deal on each. Get a written price quote before you talk about a trade-in or dealer financing. Shop in advance for the best finance deal at your credit union, bank or finance company. Look at the total finance charges and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), not just the monthly payment.

Read and understand every document you are asked to sign. Don’t take possession of the car until all paperwork is final.

Check out different vehicles. Consider features such as whether quotes are free, the availability of financing, and site security.

Research the dealer’s price for the car and options. It’s easier to get the best price when you know what the dealer paid for a vehicle. The dealer invoice price is available at a number of websites and in printed pricing guides. Consumer Reports offers the wholesale price. Lower than the invoice price, this figure factors in dealer incentives from a manufacturer and is a more accurate estimate of what a dealer is paying for a vehicle.

Find out if the manufacturer is offering rebates that will lower the cost.

Get price quotes from several dealers. Find out if the amounts quoted are the prices before or after rebates are deducted.

Avoid high-profit, low-value extras such as credit insurance, extended warranties, auto club memberships, rust proofing and upholstery finishes. You do not have to purchase credit insurance in order to get a loan.

Consider fuel economy. A vehicle that gets more miles per gallon is good for your wallet as well as for the environment. These government web pages will help you comparison shop.
Use the Green Vehicle Guide (www.epa.gov/emissweb) to find the vehicles that are most fuel-efficient and have the cleanest-running engines.
Go to www.fueleconomy.gov to compare the miles-per-gallon ratings of different vehicle models manufactured since the mid-1980s.
Go to www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml for annual fuel estimates.

1. http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_automobiles_general_tips.shtml