Buying a new car is, for most people, one of the biggest purchases they will ever make. Not only is a costly upfront, but there is always maintenance that will be required, and gas to put in the tank. A new car is expensive.

For that reason, people purchase used cars three times as much as they purchase new ones. It's often the only choice for some people. For them, they have to buy used car. If you're one of these people, I will show you how to buy used car in this article.

New cars are overrated. As soon as they're driven off the lot, they can lose 20% of their value. Usually it's more. Also, every year the value of the car will depreciate around another 20%. This means that within a few years you can practically by the same car for half price, if you buy used.

Before purchasing a used car, you should do some planning in advance. Decide what your budget is and the types cars that you are interested in purchasing. Next, do some research by checking out different dealers so you have as many choices as possible. This will be the key to getting the best deal.

However, besides dealers you can also purchase used cars from individuals. Check classifieds for this.

Whether you purchase from a dealer or individual, make sure you purchase for someone who has a good reputation and is credible. Also, inspect the car to find out its true condition. Test drive it and give it an overall checkup. Asked to see a maintenance record for the car, if one exists.

If you're not knowledgeable about cars, I would recommend that you take along a mechanic with you when you look at different use cars to purchase.

There you have it — some simple tips on how to buy a used car.