Straight talk on used cars
Buy or sell a used car like you know the driveway.
Honest, practical guides to inspecting a car, reading a history report, judging a fair price, negotiating and selling your own car privately.
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Used Car Inspection
Driveway checklists, test-drive red flags and what a mechanic should check.
Explore topic →02Vehicle History Reports
How to read a report, what branded titles mean and what it does not show.
Explore topic →03Fair Pricing
How mileage, condition and history change what a car is worth.
Explore topic →04Negotiation
What to say, what to avoid and how to deal with private sellers and dealers.
Explore topic →05Reliability
Judging reliability, high mileage and service records before you buy.
Explore topic →06Selling Your Car
Selling privately step by step, listings, screening buyers and safe payment.
Explore topic →Featured reading
Start Here: Used-Car Essentials
The questions used-car buyers and sellers ask first.
What Does Dmv Title Problems Reported Mean on a History Report?
DMV title problems reported means the state record shows a title issue, such as a branding conflict, duplicate title, lien mismatch, or…
Is There a Free Accident History Report for a Car?
Free VIN checks can surface accident clues, but a full accident history report usually requires payment.
How Long Should a Used Car Test Drive Be?
A used car test drive should last 20 to 30 minutes, with 45 minutes better if you can mix city streets, highway…
How to Inspect a Used Car Before Buying It
Inspect a used car in three passes: paperwork, body, and road test. Learn what to check first, what each fault means, and…
From the blog
Latest Used-Car Articles
New guides on inspecting, pricing, negotiating and selling.
How High Mileage Is Too High for a Used Car to Buy?
A used car is too high-mileage when the discount no longer covers the repairs you are…
How Much Are Dealer Fees on Used Cars?
Dealer fees on used cars usually run from about $200 to $1,000+, but the total depends…
What Should You Offer on a Used Car?
Start with local fair-market price, subtract repair costs, then bid 10% to 15% below that number.…
Private Party vs Dealer Price Difference: What Is Normal?
A normal private-party discount is often about 5% to 15% below dealer retail, but taxes, repairs,…
Can a Car Run Fine and Still Have Hidden Flood Damage?
Yes. A flood-damaged car can start, idle, shift, and drive normally on a short test, then…
How Many Photos Should a Car Listing Have?
Most used-car listings should use 12 to 20 photos, with about 12 as the minimum practical…
Recent Guides
- What Does Dmv Title Problems Reported Mean on a History Report?
- Is There a Free Accident History Report for a Car?
- How Long Should a Used Car Test Drive Be?
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