When you are shopping for a used car, you may have decided that you would like to purchase a car outright from a private party. This can be the best way to go for some people, such as those who know they wouldn't qualify for an auto loan or for those who like the idea of getting firsthand knowledge about the car from the person who has actually been the one driving and caring for it. If you have decided that you would like to go this route, then you should read the information in this article so you have a better chance of ending up with a trustworthy car at a price you will be pleased with.

Know your top dollar

The very first thing you want to do is know exactly how much you can spend on a car. Go over all your finances and come to a conclusion on the absolute most you can spend; never go over that amount. Don't be afraid to look at cars that are a little above your budget because the chances are good you can get them to come down a bit.

Know the value of the car you are going to see

You don't want to take the word of the seller on how much their car is worth. Instead, use one of the great resources available to you online to tell you the worth. You can enter such information as the make, model, year, condition and that the car is being bought from a private party. You may also be asked other information about the car, such as the motor size and any extra amenities it has. Once you have entered this information, prices will come up so you can make sure you aren't overpaying for the car.

Know where to be picky and where not to

While it's perfectly fine to have high standards, don't expect perfection in a used car. However, you also don't want to ignore the big things. While it's fine to ignore some dents and scrapes, you don't want to ignore damage so severe it may have affected the frame. Also, while you can ignore the fact that the car is due for an oil change, you don't want to forgive indications that the car may have big problems like transmission or motor problems. Click here to learn more about automotive repair.

Make sure you drive when you test drive the car

You want to take the car on a test drive. When you go on a test drive, you want to make sure you are the one driving if the seller is going with you. This way, you can get a better feel for how the car drives and you will have an easier time feeling if something may be off with the wheels, steering or even in the motor.