There are a lot of important things to consider when making the decision to purchase a used car. In order to make a smart and worthwhile purchase you should take these key points into consideration:

1. Find out the car’s current mileage. The standard amount of miles put on a car per year is twelve thousand miles.

2. Be sure to ask if the person selling the car to you is the original owner because if they are, they will be able to give you all of the information you need to know about the car.

3. Ask if there are available records of services, to know what repairs and maintenance have been performed on the car. This will ensure that you are purchasing a car that has been properly taken care of and that is in proper working order.

4. Find out what special features are included in the car such as a good audio system, power windows, air conditioning, heated seats, etc. Also, be sure to know they are all working properly.

5. Find out why the seller is getting rid of the car. If they are just getting rid of it because it doesn’t work properly, it is not a smart purchase. Most likely the seller will not reveal this information to you, so have your wits about you and be sure your receive a good or logical explanation such as they are moving or buying a new or different car.

6. Be sure to find out the car’s accident history. Know what accidents the car has taken part in.

7. Be sure to take a closer look at the car. Ask if you can take it for a test drive or to a local garage for a quick inspection.

8. With such high gas prices, it is important to know about the car’s fuel economy and the how many miles the car gets per gallon. Also, know what kind of fuel the car runs off of.

9. Find out how much the car is worth and know if you are being offered an appropriate asking price. If the price is either a rip off or it does not fit your budget, see if you can get the seller to lower it. If not, it is a good idea to shop elsewhere.

10. Find out if the previous owner was happy with the car. If you get an honest and enthusiastic answer you will be more likely to be happy with the car as well. This is because you are most likely avoiding any car problems that you were not informed of by the previous owner.

11. If there is no auto warranty in effect for the car, consider purchasing a used car warranty.