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.
Browse by topic
Explore Used-Car Guides
Pick a topic for checklists, price advice and selling help.
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.
VIN Check: How to Verify a Used Car’s History
Match the VIN to the title, dashboard, and door label, then run NHTSA and a history report to catch fraud, salvage branding,…
Used Car Inspection: What to Check Before You Buy
Inspect a used car in four stages and sort flaws into cosmetic, negotiate, or walk-away issues before you buy.
Used Car Reliability: How to Judge It Before You Buy
Use a 100-point triage to judge used car reliability before you buy: score history, maintenance, model-year risk, and inspection results.
Used Car Offer: How to Make One and Get It Accepted
Offer 90-95% of market value at a dealer or 85-92% in a private sale, then adjust for history, condition, mileage and MOT…
From the blog
Latest Used-Car Articles
New guides on inspecting, pricing, negotiating and selling.
How Can I Tell If a Used Car Has Flood Damage?
Check for a flood title, musty odor, water lines, corrosion in connectors, mud in hidden seams,…
How to Take Car Listing Photos with Your Phone
Use your phone in bright open shade, clean the car, and take 20 to 24 photos…
Used Car Value: How to Price Any Car Fairly
Use the private-party market median, then adjust for mileage, condition, and title status to price any…
Sell Your Car: Private Sale, Trade-In, or Online?
Private sale usually brings the most money, trade-in is fastest, and online offers land in the…
What Does Out-the-Door Price Mean on a Used Car?
Out-the-door price is the total amount you pay to take a used car home, including the…
What Is Trade-in Value on a Car?
Trade-in value is the amount a dealer credits for your car before it resells it. See…
Recent Guides
- VIN Check: How to Verify a Used Car’s History
- Used Car Inspection: What to Check Before You Buy
- Used Car Reliability: How to Judge It Before You Buy
Browse a topic above or search for your question.
Looking for a specific answer?
Search by topic, problem or step.