Let me show you how easy it can be buying used vehicles now days when you know what you are looking for and what to do. If you don’t know what you are doing you can get burned real fast, and end up buying used vehicles that cost you big bucks in repair bills.

You need to do your homework before going out in the market place. I know this takes time, however it can save you lots of money in the long run making the homework worth more than its time in keeping the green in your wallet.

First, decide how much payment you can afford each month. It is true that most people need to borrow money to pay for a used vehicle. Edmunds.com has an Affordability Calculator where you can punch in the numbers to help you discover the figure that best suits you.

Second, decide on the make and model of vehicle you want and what will fit your needs. Choose 3 different make and models so that you have a few good ones to choose from. This way if your first choice falls through, you will have a back-up plan. This is another great tip to avoid wandering from your well thought out map to purchase your used vehicle.

The third thing you should do is to arrange for financing. Going to the dealership with the financing set in place will save you the hassle of negotiating with the finance manager and the salesman. You will be able shop the best interest rate ahead of time. In addition, you’ll remove any dependency on the salesman and his financing. And, the best part is that you will be able to stick to your budget without being talked "up" to a higher priced vehicle.

Next, you are prepared to begin looking for the car. When buying used vehicles you can use newspapers for one good source, websites are another, and Craigslist.com has an extensive section for used vehicles. Watch your mail, most neighborhood dealerships send out postcards announcing their latest and greatest sale. And, ask friends and family if anyone is looking to sell their used car.

A good rule to follow is that the typical driver puts 10,000 – 15,000 miles on a car per year. Do the math, does the mileage equate to this, or has the car been driven excessively?

Any time you are buying used vehicles, be sure and run a history report on the car to see if there has been previous damage done to the vehicle. You can use Carfax.com or Autocheck.com to run this type of report. You will need the VIN from the vehicle that you are checking in order to do this. These sites will charge you approximately $39 - $59.00 to run the facts. Again, print these out for your records.

During the test drive you will want to watch for these points:

• Visibility

• Braking

• Engine Noise

• Acceleration

• Cornering

• Air Conditioning

• Sound System

Once you decide on the vehicle you want be sure and have a mechanic check the vehicle for you. This one step can save you big bucks and many sleepless nights when you are buying used vehicles.

Armed with these tips can keep you from going in a tailspin when you are out buying used vehicles, and trying to get a dependable ride at a good price. Keep in mind that the best way to keep from having to spend big bucks is to do your homework and load up with knowledge. In my experience, I have found that my clients, who didn’t take the time to do their research, are really sorry they didn’t.