Classified ads are a great way to get a fantastic deal on a pre-owned vehicle. Knowledge is key to finding the best price on the most dependable car. These five tips will make your search a little smoother.

Know how much you can spend:
Most sellers will let you negotiate a little on the price. If your bank account will only allow for an $8,000 vehicle, there’s no sense in looking at $12,000 vehicles.

Have the vehicle inspected:
If the owner will allow it, have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic you hire. Usually with a used vehicle, you can expect some work to be needed. Just make sure you aren’t buying into major repairs.

Check the mileage:
If you have boiled down your choices to two similar vehicles and one has 100,000 miles on it and the other has 55,000 miles on it, choose the one with the lower reading. This will improve your chances for less repairs over time and it will also help when it comes time for you to resell the vehicle.

Test-drive:
Take the vehicle for a spin under varied road conditions such as hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic. Try to spend at least 30 minutes in the vehicle to make sure you are comfortable in the seats and the visibility is good over both shoulders and in the rear view mirror.

Get it in writing:
After you have paid for the vehicle (with a money order or cashier’s check) make sure you get a written bill of sale. This should include both of your signatures as well as the price you paid and any other conditions of the sale.

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