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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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.
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, and stained carpets before you buy.
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 for a stronger listing.
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 used car fairly in a private…
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 middle. Use the 10% rule to…
From the blog
Latest Used-Car Articles
New guides on inspecting, pricing, negotiating and selling.
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…
What Are Title Problems on a Car?
A title problem is any ownership, lien, branding, or fraud issue that can stop a DMV…
How to Check a Car’s Accident History by VIN
Run the VIN through at least two history sources, then confirm any damage with paint, panel,…
What to Bring to a Test Drive of a Used Car
Bring your license, proof of insurance, phone, charger, flashlight, tire-pressure gauge, and a checklist before the…
What Is a Used Car Inspection and What Does It Include?
A used-car inspection checks the engine, brakes, tires, body, electronics, and documents before you buy, so…
Recent Guides
- How Can I Tell If a Used Car Has Flood Damage?
- How to Take Car Listing Photos with Your Phone
- Used Car Value: How to Price Any Car Fairly
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