I understand the need for cheap, reliable, good, safe used cars among the many used cars for sale in Las Vegas, as well as nationwide. [caption id="attachment_4011" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="2002 Pontiac Coupe $5999"][/caption] However, I also get to experience first hand the process of elimination when checking these cars out online and in-person, as well as the heartbreak of explaining to a first-time buyer, teen driver or hard-working bloke, the reality of why this $1000 car is now costing $3000 to repair.

7 essential tips for finding a GOOD CHEAP used CAR in this treacherous used car market 20.11

  1. When searching online at AUTOTRADER.com, CARGURUS.com, OODLE.com FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE or CRAIG’S LIST, demand to see the front and back of the title and a Carfax BEFORE driving over to see the car.  (No see-no sale)
  2. If the title says SALVAGE, REBUILT, TRUE MILEAGE UNKNOWN, RUN LIKE H-E __  ___   away from the car.  This is a nightmare waiting to happen in 85% of the cases.  The CARFAX or AUTOCHEK will tell you there was damage but not how much.  These types of cars no longer live up to the manufacturer’s safety ratings.
  3. go to WWW.NHTSA.COM and check the RECALLS, SERVICE BULLETINS and COMPLAINTS sections to read up on all the BAD stuff about this car.  I have found lots of nasty info. on the most expensive cars, friends were selling friends… at a great price. The “friends” never knew “anything” about these problems…which might have been true… but I wasn’t going to let MY CLIENT BUY THAT CAR, no matter how good a deal it was…among friends.
  4. When making an appointment, I like to arrange to meet the seller at a fire or police station parking lot, where cameras and official public servants are never more than a cry for help away.  This deters thieves and scammers.
  5. Get underneath the car and look for rust, oil stains, dirt globs where road debris has stuck to oil and grease.  Look for anything new or mismatched, including tires.
  6. Bring your mechanic with you, for a simple once over, if it passes first glance, then ask the seller to follow you back to the garage where the independent mechanic can put it up on a lift for a more thorough inspection. The inspection should yield a list of immediate and future expenses, which can be negotiated before the sale.
  7. Contact DMV to be sure there are NO OPEN LIENS on the car. In this day and age of computers, a fake title is not a surprise., and many states do not require the bank to hold the original title until the car is paid off.  Never pay-off a car loan for the seller, the title is NEVER coming to you first. It goes to the seller who has to sign it over to you.
  8. If you have any questions about this information, feel free to contact me by using the form below.  I will be happy to answer your questions as quickly as possible.
For many people the negotiation process is as arduous as the search and test-drive of a used car.  Tomorrow I will address the negotiation of a PRIVATE PARTY SALE. ————————————————————————————- Sarah Lee is an automotive writer, personal car concierge and commercial fleet manager. If you need free advice on your car problem, question, issue, contact her at sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net for a confidential conversation. She has over 22+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. MyCarlady offers private, auto-related services to help you maintain your personal or commercial vehicles. Call Sarah Lee for more information: 702-521-7546 ]]>