Buying a used car is obviously different from having to deal with a brand new vehicle. Aside from needing to check on where it’s been, there are basic rules you’ll need to abide to, such as tracking down the car’s maintenance record, doing some comparison-shopping before deciding, and putting it up for inspection by a certified mechanic. Of course, you also have to stay within your budget. If you are earning just twice as much as your car loan then forget it and look for something else. You do not want to bury yourself with debts over the long haul.

Here are ten pointers to remember before getting yourself a used car.

1. Be aware that the Federal Trade Commission’s Used Car Rule expects dealers to present conspicuously and prominently a Buyer’s Guide sticker, which is a warranty notice. This sticker should be on all used cars, but never trucks. Look for the sticker to know whether the used car has a warranty. If the car does not have a sticker, then it is being sold “as is.”

2. Before you negotiate with the car loan agency, make sure to visit the car lot, superstore, dealership, or other source. If you’ve decided to buy a car from a private individual, you should meet the seller personally and take note of his name and face. Appear to be someone who is looking for cars at other places, so you have leverage to obtain a good bargain.

3. Money talks, so clean your credit first before even considering a car loan. If you have a clean credit record, the agency can even get you a stellar rate; thus, you can save more money.

4. Do not be lazy. Try to look for the best rates from credit unions and local banks because they may cut you a nice deal, especially if you already have an account with them.

5. You can tell the seller that you already have a car loan in hand because they would think you’ll agree to close a deal easily with a snap of the finger. Don’t look too desperate.

6. Have a mechanic to check the particular car that you want to buy before actually purchasing it. When your mechanic has found out that there the car needs certain repairs, you could actually negotiate with the seller or subtract the repair fees from the principal offer.

7. Take another look at the car if you have reached a price standoff. You could use the Buyer’s Inspection Checklist to check for problems that you may have overlooked.

8. The maximum amount that you would pay for the car should be your last offer to the seller. Tell the seller that your offer is the final one. Show the seller how you have arrived with that offer and justify it as reasonably as possible.

9. You already have a deal if the seller accepts your final offer. When that happens, the seller then prepares a Purchase Agreement or Buyer’s Order which you should sign. Do not accept a first draft; rather, insist on a readable document and examine the contract first before signing it. Read the fine print.

10. Before you sign the contract, ensure that the purchase agreement is free from blank spaces, omissions, extra charges, mistaken prices, and arithmetic errors. The information on the purchase agreement should be the same with the information in your copy. Include all verbal promises in your written contract.