When in the used car market there are many people trying to sell bad cars to good people. They might be a used car dealership, or just someone trying to get rid of their present car. I know that in a perfect world we would all buy new cars, but this just isn’t feasible for most of us. So we must be careful when we are preparing to buy that next used car. You most definitely don’t want to get a lemon.

I can remember the first time I saw a car driving down the road and it was pointed one way, but going another. I was a little boy and I thought what is wrong with that car? My father went on to explain how the frame had been damaged, and that the car was dangerous to drive.

In this case it is quite easy to see that the car is not functioning properly and will cost you a bunch of money in the future. But some cars that are lemons are not that easy to spot. How do you know that you are getting a good deal?

The first place to look to check if the car has been totaled is the title. If a car has been totaled by an insurance agent then state law normally requires for them to stamp the title. If there is no evidence in the title, then you will have to do some more investigating! This can be quite easy and anyone can do it.

The most obvious signs of a repair on a car are the light covers. I have seen this a million times! If there is paint on the taillight cover then the car has been in some kind of accident for sure. How do I know? Because they had to repaint that piece of the car, and some of it got on the taillight. This might not be a big deal but if the seller won’t admit to a “small” fender bender then he might be hiding a much bigger accident and much more serious damage to the car.

Another method to use when trying to figure out if a car has been in an accident is the lines where the pieces of the body come together. If the gap between the parts is perfectly parallel the entire seam then the chances are that it hasn’t been in an accident. If all of these lines are parallel then the car is sitting straight and shouldn’t have any major body, or frame damage.

In all your investigating don’t forget to do the obvious and ask the owner about the car. Many times people selling the car are very honest and will tell you every detail. Remember that you are in control and they have to answer all of your questions. Many times you can tell if they are hiding something by asking some simple questions. If they are hesitant and a little shaky, then walk away. There is a better car just down the road with a seller that will tell you everything that you want to know.

I recently was looking at a used car. I immediately noticed the spray paint on the brake light cover. After that I could much more easily see that this particular fender was a noticeably different color. I asked the seller if the car had been in any accidents. He said, “oh you know nothing major just the normal scrape here and there.” Hmmm, I don’t know if I believe that response. That is a easy way of not lying, but not telling the whole truth. Needless to say, I didn’t buy that car!

Buying a used car can be a fun experience. Even though it is not new, it is still a new car to you! But you do need to take some precautions and make sure that you get a good deal on your car. There is nothing worse then owning a car for a few months and then finding out there are serious problems. Do you homework and have fun!