• Certified pre-owned vehicles usually have a warranty, but might be priced higher than a generic used vehicle.

• Order a vehicle history report.

• Have an independent mechanic evaluate the vehicle.

• Shop online to explore the best financing options in the market. Also explore credit unions for a better financing deal. Know that dealers have many attractive financing options for customers with a credit score of 700 or higher.

• Kelly Blue Book: www.kbb.com• Edmunds.com: www.edmunds.com• National Auto Dealers Association: www.nadaguides.com

• Resources for Carfax: www.carfax.com• Resources for Auto Lemon Used Car History Check: www.is-it-a-lemon.com• Resources for Car Detective: www.cardetective.com