Used cars buyer beware!

The used automobile inspection is the most important step in the whole process (my opinion). If you get a great looking car at a low price it might be because hidden problems exist in an expensive mechanical system.
Checking the vehicle yourself or having a professional mechanic or shop check the vehicle is important. Most dealers will take the vehicle to the shop of your choice for a complete inspection.
If they do not want to cooperate on this they maybe hiding something or know the vehicle will not pass an inspection. Most shops will get around $200.00 for a complete inspection. This is still money well spent but I have a cheaper alternative that may be right for some people.

How about a Haynes manual that provides a detailed list of things to check. Written by professionals that can describe in-depth how to do it right. Haynes created this "Do It Yourself" guide for inspecting used automobiles 10 years ago but this important stuff remains the same today.

This is comprehensive information that a lot of vehicle sellers would rather you didn't have. It's written for the capable Diy'er but good enough for even advanced mechanics to keep them on track! Bring it with you on your next used car search.

The book covers finding hidden rust, spotting crash damage, how to detect body filler and evaluating a cars general condition with a 10-minute walk-around. It even teaches you how to find common mechanical problems.

Finally a walk through on how to road-test the vehicle plus checklists to insure you get the most out of it. Why arm yourself with the knowledge and understanding of what to look for, listen to, and even smell when you are inspecting a car. In many cases you can use your findings as a bargaining tool to lower the price to cover all the needed repairs.