Ask about maintenance, gas mileage, and major and minor problems. Next, check used car ads in the classified section of your newspaper. The ads will give you some idea of current retail prices. A new car dealership is another good place to compare prices on a used car. Dealer prices are usually higher than those in the classified ads, however, because the best trade-ins are kept and the rest are sold wholesale.
Some people prefer a privately owned car.
The drawback is that a used car bought from a private owner usually has no guarantee. When calling about a car, ask whether the seller is a dealer or individual owner. Ask how may previous owners there have been, how the car was used and why it's being sold. Occasionally, you may be able to buy a car from someone within your family, or a friend. This can result in a good buy, but it also can be a later source of friction if the car turns out to have problems.