I’m not a car dealer but I am an automotive enthusiast. I’ve had my share of cars:

1. 1989 Honda CRX Si
2. 1990 Honda CRX HF
3. 1987 Honda CRX Si
4. 1992 Honda Civic Hatchback Dx
5. 1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo
6. 1989 Nissan 240sx
7. 1993 Lexus SC300
8. 1989 Honda Civic Wagon EX
9. 2003 Nissan 350z Track
10. 1990 Honda CRX
11. 1999 Honda CRV EX
12. 2003 Volkswagen 20th Anniversary GTI

all bought used. Second hand cars are much cheaper than brand new cars but buyers must beware since some states (such as California) don’t offer any protection for buyers of “lemons.” Most people have a list of things to go over before buying a used car. Here’s mine:

• Take the car in to every gear. Even though this may require a trip on the freeway this must be done to ensure that the transmission is good. If the seller is not willing to let you drive the car then WALK AWAY. You have to drive a car before you buy it!
• Listen for strange sounds. Leave the radio off during the test drive since having a fewer distractions helps.
• Check remaining tread on tires. Tires have wear bars
  

  wear bars

  that show when they should be replaced. (If the tire tread is down to the wear bars then the tires need to be replaced.) Tires are expensive to replace.
• Look for signs of smoking. Sometimes the old smoke smell will creep in after the windows have been rolled up for a little while. Many cars that have been smoked in have little signs of smoking-brown spots and little burns are giveaways.
• Check the gaps between all the body panels. They should be pretty even. Uneven gaps indicate possible panel repair or replacement-a sign of body work from a previous accident. Some really good body shops leave less evidence but a majority of bodyshops can’t get all the gaps as perfect as the factory gaps.
• Check for the spare tire and look for all the known accessories. All Honda CRVs come with a picnic table in the trunk. I’d be upset if I bought a used CRV and didn’t get my picnic table because I didn’t check for it. Some cars come with a first aid kit that the seller may or may not have.
• Make sure it passes smog if required by state law.
• Check the car title for salvage. Salvaged cars are worthless-they don’t have any stated value to Kelly Blue Book (KBB). The condition of a salvaged car can vary too much and can be downright unsafe in some instances. A vehicle gets a permanent salvaged title when the insurance company decides that the cost to completely repair a damaged vehicle to it’s “original state” from an accident or theft exceeds the value of the vehicle. The existence of a nice shiny new paint job doesn’t mean that the car has been repaired properly. Some people cut corners and go with inferior parts. In fact some cars are wrecked so badly that nothing can be done to make it drive straight anymore. Salvaged vehicles do have a value-it’s whatever it’s worth to the buyer considering the fact that the car could be unsafe for its occupants. Car dealers don’t EVER sell salvaged cars for a reason.
• Make sure EVERYTHING works: window wipers (front and rear if equipped), window washer squirters, head lights (low and high beam), interior lights, brake lights, reverse lights (helps if you have a friend with you-if you don’t have someone else available then back up toward a wall or glass where you can see the reflection of the brake and reverse lights), radio, CD player, Navigation, sunroof, rear window defroster, heat and air conditioning, and other buttons or knobs.

Car registration both (new and renewal) is going up by double or maybe even triple on May 19, 2009. This is one of the measures taken to end the California budget crisis. Saving money on car insurance is needed now more than ever to offset these costs.

The used car market is hot right now with many people looking for good deals on a used car. Check out the used car buying guide for helpful tips when purchasing a used vehicle.