The right deal: How to find a used car Published Jan. 13, 2012 By Capt. Stuart Anderson 90th Missile Wing Judge Advocate F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Buying a used car can be a great way to find a deal. Even one year after a vehicle is purchased from a dealership, it will lose a lot of its book value without necessarily losing the performance or style that drivers may want. When buying a used car, however, there are a number of issues new car buyers do not face such as the title and car history, and one issue every car buyer faces: financing. These issues should not prevent one from looking for a good deal on a used car; however, caution should be exercised to make sure the car has a good history, the buyer is getting a fair deal, and the deal is successfully closed. One place to get help with this is the 90th Missile Wing Legal Office, where legal assistance attorneys can help consumers look out for used-car pitfalls. Make sure the car has a good history. There are a lot of tools here. Ask for a car history report; most dealers provide them for free. Ask for a copy of the title as it may name the previous owner. If it does, contact the previous owner and ask about the car's history. Ask the seller if there have been any accidents, flood damage or mechanical problems associated with the vehicle. Finally, take the car to a local, personally-frequented mechanic, or at least a "gear-head" friend, for a test drive and inspection. Make sure this is a good deal. This has two parts. First, what price should be paid? Consult consumer resources such as Consumer Reports, National Automobile Dealers Association or Kelley Blue Book; look on large used-car sales Web sites; look at similar cars at other dealerships. Of course, one needs to know what price the dealer is asking. Remember what matters is not just the sticker price; it is how much one is going to pay for the car over the whole transaction. The second part of getting a good deal is financing. The first rule of financing is not to take dealer financing without shopping around. If at a used car lot, ask for their financing terms which comes in a Truth in Lending document. That document will outline the loan, the interest, the monthly payments and the total cost when all is said and done. Then go to a bank, credit union or other institution to see what they offer. Most times a better deal can be found there. There is nothing wrong with dealer financing itself, but make sure the rates the dealer offers are affordable and it is the best deal possible. Many lenders will pre-approve consumers for a loan, so shop around for a good deal before even finding the right car. An individual selling a used car won't provide a Truth in Lending document, but the advice about shopping around for the best deal on a loan still applies. Keep in mind, if the dealer is the only one who will finance, be extremely careful about their terms. When dealer financing is the only option, this typically means the vehicle is out of the buyer's price range. This advice does require a little time. Purchasers should make at least two trips -- the first to check out the car and get a price and the second to return armed with a clear idea of what the car is worth and personal financing. Finally, remember that when buying a car, two things are really being bought: the car and the title. The title lets law enforcement, the department of motor vehicles and future buyers know the title holder does in fact own the vehicle. One may have heard "possession is nine-tenths of the law," but physically possessing a car without having the title can be a nightmare. When buying a used car, make sure the seller has title to it. Under state law in Colorado, for example, dealers have 30 days to deliver the title, but that does not mean the buyer has to wait. After all, one does not want to pay cash, trade in his or her old car and drive off, only to learn later the seller never had the title in the first place. So, when looking at a car, ask to see the title. Then, when returning to buy the car, do not leave until the seller has signed the title over -- or tell the seller the car will not be bought until the seller is prepared to sign it over. That might mean a third trip and the dealer may say someone else is going to buy the car. Nevertheless, before buying the car -- before signing the contract, before trading in an old car, before making a down payment and before driving away in the new one -- the seller absolutely must be ready and able to sign the title. This is a lot of advice, and the legal office can help members through the process. If planning to buy a used car, come to the legal office so a checklist of the steps to take can be provided. Once one has the Truth in Lending document and the sales contract, bring them to the legal office. The legal assistance attorneys can check the terms of financing; verify the contract is the deal agreed to and is completely understood; and, finally, walk consumers through the things they need to do to make sure they leave the sale with not only a new used car but also a clear title. For more information call the Legal Office at 773-2256.