Used Automotives by Used-Automotives.com - Before you start shopping for a car, you'll need to do some homework. Spending time now may save you serious money later. Think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget. You can learn about car models, options, and prices by reading newspaper ads, both display and classified. There is a wealth of information about used cars online and used car parts online on the Internet: enter "used cars online" or "used car parts online" as the key words and you'll find additional information on how to buy a used car online, detailed instructions for conducting a pre-purchase inspection, and ads for used cars online available for sale, among other information. Libraries and book stores also have publications that compare car models, options, and costs, and offer information about frequency-of-repair records, safety tests, and mileage. Many of these publications have details on the do's and don'ts of buying a used car online.

Research the frequency of repair and maintenance costs on the models in auto-related consumer magazines, once you've narrowed your car choices. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Auto Safety Hotline (1-800-424-9393) gives information on recalls.