One tip I suggest is to put the word out with everyone you know. Tell them about your car situation, and that you need a car for $3000. If they’re going to trade one in or something, that amount might be what the dealership would give them, so why not let you buy it for that instead.

Also, here’s how I choose vehicles: go to the library and look at Consumer Reports’ repair records as far back as they have issues.

Make a list of all the makes and models where the repair records are all red circles or semicircles, and not black dots or black semicircles.

Go through those repair records from book to book, and see which vehicles from your list have repair records that are getting better, vs. those who never seem to correct the problems, or they’re getting worse.

Then, narrow your options down to the good ones that stay good or get better over the years. That’s half the battle right there.