Buying a used car can be like a crap shoot, a real hit or miss proposition. I don't know about you, but the thought of plunking down five thousand dollars for a car and hoping that it will give you several years of driving satisfaction is downright frightening. Why go into the used car market unequipped? The following tips can ease your concerns and help you walk away from the deal a real winner.

Dealer v. Private Seller

If you purchase a car through a reputable dealer, they should offer to you some type of warranty even if it is only a 30 day warranty on select components. However, when buying through a dealer, you'll pay a premium for that privilege as the price will likely be hundreds of dollars above the Kelley blue book price. Therefore, consider buying directly from a seller who really knows his car.

Run a Repair Report

To avoid buying a lemon, pay the fee to get a repair report on the car from a company like CARFAX. There isn't a 100% guarantee that they have all of the information about the car, but you can reduce the chances of purchasing a lemon by running a vehicle history report on the car.

Take It to a Mechanic

If you find a vehicle that you really like, take the car to a trusted mechanic for an independent opinion. If the seller objects, simply walk away as the car likely has some hidden problem that will become revealed once your mechanic examines the car.

Consider A Program Car

Cars driven by Hertz, Avis, and other rental companies are often sold to the public through retail outlets operated by these companies. Okay, I know what you are thinking: these cars are not only used, but abused. Well, the car rental companies know about these fears and only offer for sale those cars that are in excellent shape. Furthermore, their maintenance schedules are impeccable and typically go much further than what the manufacturer recommends. This translates into a very good quality used car for you at a competitive price. Low miles too: most are sold with less than 30,000 miles on the odometer, sometimes much less.

One caution: watch out for Katrina cars, vehicles that were declared totaled after the hurricane struck the gulf region but were salvaged, repaired and sold in another state after the title was washed. If you suspect the origin of any car simply walk away from that sale.