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Buying a quality used car is more of an art than a science. For some it is a great rush take leaves you with a sense of pride. For others, a dreaded chore that makes riding the bus look good. No matter which disposition you started life with it gets better with the right information up your sleeves. I have worked for dealerships, service centers, and bought two used cars this year. That being said, here is my best advice.

YOUR NEEDS- Do you need a four door? Maybe you need to haul a camper. Ample foot room. High overhead. Low mileage. The options are endless so know what YOU need and want. Make a complete list of requirements your new-to-you car must meet and try to anticipate your needs for as long as you will be paying on the vehicle. Choosing a car that fulfills your needs now and in the future saves you money, since every time you buy a different car you loose money in taxes and front end interest on the loan.

YOUR PRICE RANGE- Knowing your price range will help you pick the best car for your money. Once you know your price range you can narrow down your choices to models you can afford. Debate models in your high and low range. Would you rather have a bigger price tag for a more dependable car? Or, save the money now for your next capital adventure. Also consider your credit, if your credit score is not that great right now you may want to consider a car you can buy outright or in a lower price range until your credit improves. Picking a sensibly priced car and being able to paying it off on time will improve your score.

DEPRECIATION- Every car depreciates in value differently. In the current market domestic models are deprecating the fastest. If you want a deal on a newer car look to General Motors (Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick, Saturn) and Ford (Lincoln, Mercury). The original owners of these cars ate a huge chunk of the sticker price in the first year. But beware, unless you are dropping a large percentage of the cars value up front domestics can easily depreciate faster than you can pay them off so you could be stuck with it. Asian models like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan depreciate significantly slower.

RELIABILITY- Do your homework and learn about the different manufacturers. Some have a reputation for making more reliable cars. This is especially important when buying a used car since it is older and may have already exceeded the factory warranties. A good clue to a vehicles reliability is it's rate of depreciation. In case your car does break

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