Buying a used car, how smart are you?

Knowing the deal with used cars is very important. If you buy a used car for a couple thousand you need to know what you're purchasing and that you are not sold a lemon. Since I don't have parents I have to gain knowledge by educating myself online. I don't have many friends with whom I can rely on to give me factual and accurate information. I have a boyfriend but he doesn't know much either because he is reliant on his father for those things. And so one of the major issues is people buy used cars and don't get a proper inspection. Dealerships want to make money and will sell you any cockamamie story to get what they can out of you. So I decided to look at the DMV website for hints and clue on how to prevent myself from getting fist fucked in the ass by a dealer. And so here is a list:

             1. Hire a mechanic who is licensed to inspect vehicles. 

                They will charge about $100.00  to inspect the car of your choice. I know its pricey but its worth doing this than finding out the hard way when your car breaks down on the interstate and you have no car and no money to get a new one.

             2. Get a detailed itinerary of all the problems and prices for each of the issues. Then when the mechanic gives you the list make sure it is totaled up to the price. and estimate it from the cost of the car and SUBTRACT at least half of the price. Talk them down. A lot of the time the cost to repair it and the cost of the selling price overweighs it and its not a good deal so talk the dealer down. He may say, "oh, I have someone else interested." And then you know he doesn't give a shit and look for someone else. 

          3. You can try a private dealer, and still follow step one most defintely. And talking down of prices is most likely to happen. As opposed to dealerships who are guaranteed to sell cars all day and your needs outweigh their greed. So, a personal private owner of a car will settle for a lower and reasonable price if the cost to repair significantly outweighs the price. because after all they are still human and understand the pressures of finances.