Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. You need to be a skeptic:
Total monthly car costs—including insurance, gas, and maintenance—should not exceed 10% of your take-home pay. 2. Perform a "Digital Background Check"
Look for "Salvage" or "Rebuilt" titles, which indicate the car was once declared a total loss. buying a used car for dummies
Insert a penny into the tire tread (head down). If you see all of Lincoln’s head, the tires are bald and will cost you hundreds to replace immediately.
Pay at least 20% upfront to avoid owing more than the car is worth. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
Mismatched paint or uneven gaps between body panels (like the hood and fender) often mean the car was in a crash and repaired poorly.
Never buy based on a shiny photo alone. Use the 17-digit to run a history report through services like CARFAX or AutoCheck . Perform a "Digital Background Check" Look for "Salvage"
Keep your loan term to 48 months (4 years) or less to minimize interest.