The following check list can be used as an indicator of things that need to be checked:

Brake cylinder, drum and worn out pads

Transmission. (This is the costliest part in an automatic car)

Check for rust in bottom, radiators, muffler and tailpipe

Check for vibrations when you brake from 40mph, without downshifting. If there are vibrations, either break pads or steering pinion is in bad shape. Get 4 people to sit in the car and make a sharp turn to check the suspensions.

Check for oil leaks, and if the car gives power speed/ pick-up when you try to accelerate.

Check for emission whether the smoke is black (thick), which means oil is also burned with fuel, and the car has lived its useful life

Ask for and analyse the maintenance records.

Ensure that it is not going beyond the 3rd purchase.

Check the Air filter, valve etc.

Ask the owner to discount the price of the car by the amount required for the repairs suggested by the mechanic or ask him to get it repaired for you.

Mileage is also a consideration while purchasing a used car, the lesser the better.

The ideal average is 10,000 miles per year. So a car manufactured in 2001 may have a driven mileage of about 70,000 miles in 2008 and not more than 80,000.

The rates for used cars have some standard values, which are used as benchmarks. These values can be checked in the "Blue Book" which is a text available in the public library or with car dealers or at www.kbb.com. There is a cost deduction to be applied for the mileage that the car has been driven for, which is mentioned in most Blue Books.



Generally private owners who sell through ads give better discounts than used car dealers.

After buying a car you need to get it insured. You cannot drive a car in the US without proper Insurance. The car has to be insured against collisions etc. There are various vehicle Insurance companies having various deals. Look up the yellow pages and call up some of them and ask for their rates.

The Insurance coverage period and the type of Insurance chosen and your age (more for less than 25 yrs.) decide the amount to be paid. "Comprehensive", "Collision" etc. are terms used by the Insurance companies to describe the type of insurance coverage.

You have to get the emission testing done on your car before it can be registered. In case the previous owner has got it done and the test is still valid, there is no need to do it till the specified period. Valid test papers are required for Registration. The local vehicle registration office will issue a temporary registration for 45 days while processing the paper. The documents required to get a registration are:

Emission Test papers

Car Insurance papers

Car ownership (title) papers