The Right Tools for Buying the Right Used Car

Owners of used 1984 Chevrolet Corvettes should be concerned because they are the most stolen models. Corvette owners living in California should also pay heed.

Art Spinella of CNW Research in Bradenton, Ore., is one of the top analysts in the used car industry with reports on monthly sales proving invaluable to identifying market trends. His statistics on March 2012 used car sales show where growth will come.

The Federal Trade Commission's crack down on five dealerships for deceptive online advertising points to the need to be vigilant when shopping for a used car. There are dishonest dealers out there who will do everything possible to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Any new car as soon it rolls off the lot is instantly a used car and such was the case with the Tesla Roadster when it rolled off the lot. Every one of the two-seater electric convertibles is now a used car, which explains why you have to know how to buy a used Tesla, especially as the company prepares to roll out the Model S.

There is yet another used car aggregator website on the Internet that purports to be the easiest way to buy your next used car. The latest iteration is AutoGlance.

Probably the secret to being among the top 10 selling used cars of 2011 is longevity. Cars and pickups – and the list is exclusively cars and pickups – have been on the market in most cases for at least 20 years.

CarMD has released its list of the Top 100 used cars of the last 10 years for 2011 and there are some surprising names at the top of the list and some that continue to thrive in spite of recent bad press that might indicate otherwise.

U.S. Bank has introduced a new auto buying service for both new and used cars that could come in handy for buyers. It focuses on connecting dealers with buyers as well as offering the opportunity for used car financing.

For those who live along the U.S./Canadian border, it might be tempting to import a used car or used truck from Canada that is being sold at an attractive price, but you need to take certain steps to make sure your used vehicle is right for the U.S. market.

Rising gas prices have compelled some buyers to downsize but keep in mind these five questions to ask before buying a small used car in an attempt to save money and get better fuel economy.

The following interview was held via email with Tyler Ellston, CEO of Carsala - a website that offers used car buyers an alternative to all the hassles of used car shopping by doing all the grunt work for them. The site has been around since 2008.

Curbstoners are dealers who pose as private sellers. Share your advice with others if you have been in this situation or you are a reformed curbstoner who used to pose as a private seller to avoid issues like warranties and disgruntled customers who wanted their money back.

There are individuals out in the used car marketplace who frequently sell used cars from their front yards in an attempt to look like private sellers even though they are used car dealers.

There’s a new way to buy a used car – and it’s something used car dealers might want to consider with their fleets if they can work out the liability and regulation issues. Hertz Car Rental is selling off its used fleet through its Rent2Buy program

From the start, 2010 was shaping up to be an interesting year to buy a used car mostly because of the massive Toyota recalls. To paraphrase “Ghost Busters,” up is down, right is left, cats are sleeping with dogs and Toyota has become a pariah. That’s why it is important to know the Top 5 tips (with a bonus one thrown in) for buying a used car in 2010. The conditions are right if you go into…

Cash for Clunkers has come to an end just a little more than a month after it truly kicked off in earnest. The U.S. Department of Transportation has compiled statistics on the program. Here is a look at those statistics, released Aug. 26, 2009, along with a little explanation of what some of it means.

Top 10 Luxury Used Vehicles

Gas is heading back to $3 a gallon. It might be time to consider trading in your gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient used car. The 2007 model year offered 10 cars that average 29 mpg or better. Most surprisingly, six of the 10 can hold 4 adults comfortably. Plus, in another pleasant surprise, all of these cars get average or better grades from Consumer Reports, except the Kia Rio, which apparen…

What was your first car after graduation - either high school or college? My first car after college was a 1972 Ford Pinto with a manual, 4-speed transmission. It was yellow, cost me a week's pay, and it ran great. What memories do you have of your first car? And, if you care to share, did your parents give it to you?

This is a great time to be in the market for a luxury used car. Now, stop laughing, it really is. Look back a few years to 2005 and 2006 model years and you’re going to find some strong bargains right now. Let’s face it. These luxury used cars, pickups and SUVs are often second or third vehicles; in effect, disposable sources of income for people who are struggling. With reduced credit availability, people with good credit (or cash) can move up to a luxury used car.

It’s always a conundrum faced every year at the holidays. What gift can I buy for the car nut on my holiday shopping list? Well, car nuts come in many different shapes, sizes and tastes, so here is some advice that I hope meets the needs of most car nuts out there. Plus, most of them will instantly enhance the value of your used car.

The best way to judge a car’s reliability is to ask people who own one. That’s the reasoning behind the J.D. Power and Associates ranking of the most reliable 2005 vehicles. The top winners were announced in 19 categories. The list has to be taken somewhat with a grain of salt because it lists the BMW X3 as a sedan when it's an SUV, or multi-activity vehicle as J.D. Power refers to t

Are you ready to move to a fuel-efficient used car that is reliable, affordable and relatively new? These 17 fuel-efficient used cars cost from $10000-$12000 range from 2002 to 2006 and represent the best of what manufacturers offer. A wide variety are represented that should meet your needs. All will comfortably carry 4 adults. Pricing info courtesy of KBB.com. Reliability info from ConsumerRep…

Are you ready to move to a fuel-efficient used car that is reliable, affordable and relatively new? These dozen used cars range from 1996 to 2005 and represent the best of what domestic and foreign manufacturers have to offer. This class of cars includes an absolute sleeper: the 2002 Chevy Prism. Pricing info courtesy of KBB.com. Reliability info comes from ConsumerReports.org and fuel economy st…

Are you ready to move to a reliable, affordable and relatively new fuel-efficient used car? These 14 fuel-efficient used cars that cost from $8000-$10000 represent the best of what manufacturers offer. A wide variety are represented that should meet the needs of almost any driver. All will comfortably carry 4 adults. Pricing info courtesy of KBB.com. Reliability info comes from ConsumerReports.or…

Among those driving SUVs too expensive to fill (or even sell)? Here's some advice: park 'em, cancel the registration and insurance and find something easier on the wallet. Here's what I mean: A 2005 Ford Explorer will use about $3,722 in gas in a year while a 1999 Mercury Tracer will only use $1,922 during the same time frame. In two years you'd pay for it with the money you've saved.

If your kid hasn’t beaten you up yet for a car while in high school or college, here are the best used cars for high school graduates as they prepare for college or college graduates as they prepare for the real world. Don’t feel guilty about not buying them a new car. It’s totally unnecessary for young people just starting out to drive a new car.

The HSBC North America Military Financial Education Center has an excellent set of questions to ponder when it comes time to buy your next used car. It will help you make the mistake others make of buying a vehicle they will use to its full capacity only 1% of the time.

Find out more about models that have been recalled and other defects.

This info is important when considering a used vehicle. Consider your surroundings before purchasing a car that’s attractive to car thieves.

Odometer tampering continues to be a serious crime and consumer fraud issue. In 2002, NHTSA determined this crime allows more than 450,000 vehicles to be sold each year with false odometer readings, milking American car buyers out of more than $1 billion annually.

This site is geared towards a new car purchase, but it can really help you narrow down your used-car choices. Answer all the questions and see where it takes you. Sure it’s going to recommend a new car, but see if similar used cars are available.

Do you want to keep up on the latest used cars news that comes from About Used Cars? Well, you can follow About Used Cars on Twitter and Facebook if you're a fan of either of those social network sites.

Independent inspections are a good way to see if a used car is going to be a good purchase for you. You cannot rely on what the seller tells you about a vehicle. There is a good primer on inspecting a used car on this website but that’s really designed to give you an a strong initial impression of a used car. Independent inspections are a good bet.