Having your own qualified mechanic accompany you and checking the state of the vehicle, both body and under the hood, allows you to have a third party's opinion about it. Even if the model has a great reputation and the vehicle history shows no problems, a previous owner may not have taken care of it and the problems may not be obvious to anyone but a qualified professional. If the dealer gives you any problems or refuses to allow you to do this, take that as a fair warning they are worried and have something to hide. Buying a car without testing driving it is like buying a car blind. This helps you decide if the car is right for you as well as to evaluate certain important factors. You'll be able to check acceleration and the breaks, how noisy the engine may be, the suspension, and the inside gauges and overall space of the car.
An important step many don't think of till it is too late is the state safety and emissions tests. Not every state requires that, but most do. Don't assume the car will pass the tests, and if it doesn't it could cost you hundreds of dollars to repair it so that you can legally drive it. This can make what seemed to be a good deal at first, such as choosing one of the used cars for sale under 1000 dollars, into a very unprofitable investment.
Second hand cars are finding themselves in new driveways every day; no one is embarrassed to say their car is used anymore. Besides the great deals you can get, you can have an almost new car for much less than an actual new car. Using these guidelines when you decide to buy a used car will help you in choosing a safe, reliable, and affordable car.
