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Welcome to NerdWallet’s SmartMoney podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions — in 15 minutes or less.
This week, Sean and Dayana settle a debate they’ve been having: What’s the best way to buy a used car? Sean’s been prowling Craigslist, while Dayana is set on a more traditional route.
Our tips
Before shopping around, set your budget. Aim to keep the total cost of owning a car, including maintenance, gas and insurance, within 20% of your monthly take-home pay.
Find the car-buying route that works best for you. If you’re a pro haggler, you might be able to find a deal on Craigslist. CarMax, meanwhile, offers a more relaxed car-buying experience that doesn’t involve negotiating. New options, like Carvana, make it easy to buy a car from the comfort of your couch and have the car delivered to you.
Know how to vet a used car. Examine the vehicle history report of any car you’re interested in, looking for things like serious accidents and how many owners it’s had. And consider the car’s mileage; about 12,000 miles annually is typical.
More about car buying on NerdWallet
Have a money question? Text or call us at 901-730-6373. Or you can email us at [email protected]. To hear previous episodes, return to the podcast homepage.
Explore options for car shopping, auto loans, and lease buyout.
Car Shopping & Financing
TrueCar - Purchase loan
on TrueCar
Auto Purchase Loans
Auto Credit Express - Used car purchase loan
Loan amount
$5K - $50K
Min. credit score
525
on Auto Credit Express
