With a full suite of used car pricing tools and comprehensive nation-wide dealer and private party listings, CarsDirect.com is the best place to begin your used car search. We suggest following these steps to find the right used vehicle for you:

1. Check out our used car Real Prices reports for the model(s) you're interested in. We provide private party, trade-in and dealer retail values for nearly every used car available for sale.

2. If you plan to trade in your used car, take advantage of our free online trade-in appraisal tool.

3. Begin your actual used car search in our nation-wide inventory of used auto listings. If you haven't yet narrowed your used car search down to one vehicle, take advantage of our handy vehicle comparison tool. If you do have a specific type of used car in mind, use our advanced search function to find used autos that closely match your criteria.

Once you've found the used car you're looking for at a dealer or private seller near you, remember to consider the following before closing the deal:

Mileage. A good rule of thumb is to look for a vehicle that hasn't been driven more than 12,000 miles a year. If the mileage is significantly higher, you should negotiate a lower price. Also pay special attention to that model's reliability ratings when considering a vehicle with higher mileage.

Maintenance. During your used car search, you should ask to see all of the maintenance documents for any vehicle you're interested in. Look for a used car that has been serviced regularly and hasn't required a great deal of repairs.

Cosmetic Damage. Inspect the vehicle closely for nicks and scratches, tears in the upholstery, stains, animal hair, etc. A less than perfect vehicle gives you more room to negotiate the price.

Salvage Title. While it may be available at an appealing price, it's a good idea to avoid any used car with a salvage title, as it is much more likely to have mechanical and cosmetic problems than a vehicle with a clean title. You can find out if a vehicle has a salvage title by obtaining a vehicle history report from AutoCheck.com.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to complete your used car search successfully on CarsDirect.com!