Buying a used car from Craigslist - Mini guide.

Buying a used car is always a daunting task. You are usually meeting people you do not know, and you have to trust them when they give you the history of the car you are interested in.

 A few quick tips can make your car buying experience less stressful.

1. Pick the lowest mileage and most recent model you can afford. Most recent cars have about the same reliability, it they are treated reasonably well. Many domestic cars offer amenities that only a few years ago were reserved for high end imports like the Lexus branch of Toyota Motors.

2. Check the fluids. Look if there is a sticker on the top of the windshield on the driver's side that shows when the oil was last changed. Is the oil very dirty? Inspect the transmission dipstick. The transmission fluid should look reddish and clean, and not look like motor oil and smell burnt. Use a clean white lint free tissue to wipe off dipstick and this will provide good contrast to have a sense of the state of the fluids.

3. Take the car for a test drive. If the seller objects to this, then walk away. Obviously there is something seriously wrong they do not want you to find out. Allow the motor to warm up slowly, check the guages and make sure the temperature guage rises and stops when the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Shift into gear and listen carefully for any hard clunks or strange sounds which may indicate wron out transmission components.


4. Check the VIN of the car, make sure it matches what is shown on the Title of the vehicle. Look carefully and ascertain that there are no liens on the car. Have the seller or yourself draw up a Bill of Sale. Fill this out, and sign and date at the bottom.

5. As much as possible, try to pay by check so that there is some degree of traceability in case of problems.


6. Have your mechanic check the vehicle out, and have any minor repairs taken care of right away.

Enjoy your new - used car!!!