When you go into a car dealership to buy a brand new car, you know you are covered under a number of things. Not only are brand new cars in practically perfect shape but they also tend to come with warranties. But because brand new cars come with a heftier price tag then used ones, it may not be in your best interest to buy one. Luckily, there are tons of different ways that you can buy a used car including one from a dealership or one from a private seller.

Whether you are looking for used Nissans for sale or any other type of car, here are a few different things that you can do to avoid buying one that will give you trouble. 

Take It Into Your Own Mechanic

Unless you are buying a certified pre-owned vehicle from a car dealership, there is no real way for you to verify if the used car you are buying is in good shape. To ensure that you aren't buying one that's going to break down anytime soon, ask to take the car into your own mechanic. Your mechanic will look for a variety of different issues, especially with things like the transmission or engine. The great thing about mechanics is that they can often take a car for a test drive and find any issues that it may have. 

Ask to See a History of Repairs

You may be surprised to learn that a lot of car owners keep a log of all of the repairs that have been made on the car. Ask to see all records of things that have been done on the car so you can see if there are any problem areas with it. For instance, if the engine is continuously having to be fixed, then you know it may need to be rebuilt soon which can be a huge expense.

Additionally, when you see what has been done, it will help you prepare for what needs to be done on the car depending on the mileage. A lot of cars need a tune-up around 100,000 miles which is something for you to factor in.

Drive It

The last thing you should do is buy a car without taking it for a drive. Although you are not a mechanic yourself, you may be able to notice anything that's wrong with the car including issues with the transmission, the accelerator, or even the brakes.

For more information about used cars for sale in your area, contact an auto dealer.