Buying a used car or truck can be an adventure. Whether your are buying a used car from an individual or a used car from a dealer, you are never quite sure what you are getting. Are you buying someone else's problem or are you buying a good, used car or truck?

Remember, most people don't sell or trade a car unless they are having problems with it, spending too much on repairs or just plain hate it. An older car that still runs and looks good is usually a keeper.

If you are buying from an individual or a car dealer, always ask for test drive. The drive should be long enough to get a good feel for how the vehicle runs, handles, rides, brakes and accelerates. If something doesn't feel right, sound right or smell right, walk away from the deal before it is too late.

Open the hood and look for obvious problems like oil or coolant leaks. Check the oil level on the dipstick. If the oil level is low, the engine may be burning or leaking oil. If the oil is very dark and thick, the engine may not have had the oil changed in a long time. Also, pull out the transmission dipstick. The fluid should be a pink or red color. If it is dark brown or has a burned smell, the transmission may have problems.

Look at the battery. If there is a date code, a battery that is more than four or five years old is reaching the end of the road. Also, if the battery posts or terminals are badly corroded, or the posts show signs of having been jumped (gouges or scratches), it may indicate a recent starting problem.

The odometer reading is always important. Low miles are usually best, but it depends on the type of driving. Highway miles are much easier on a vehicle than frequent short trip, stop-and-go driving. A car with 80,000 highway miles may therefore be in better condition than the same car with 50,000 city miles on the odometer.

Look at the tires. Uneven wear usually means worn suspension parts that could be expensive to replace.

Turn everything on and off to see if it works. This includes the lights, turn signals, wipers, heater, defroster, air conditioner, power windows (front and rear), power seats, radio, power door locks, etc. Anything that doesn't work should help you negotiate a lower price.

Watch out for flood damaged vehicles. Water can cause long term, chronic and expensive problems with wiring and electronic modules. Look for water or mud stains on carpeting, on door upholstery, in the trunk and under the hood.

Most used cars are sold "as-is," which means if anything goes wrong with it after you buy it, so sad too bad. You are stuck with it and it is your problem now. The only exceptions are low mileage late model used cars that may still be under factory warranty, or come with an extended warranty. Most used car dealers offer extra cost used car warranties on late model vehicles (typically those with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer). One major repair will more than pay for the warranty. Just be sure to read the fine print on the warranty if you decide to buy the extra protection. Most of these warranties do not cover maintenance items or the brakes, tires, battery, exhaust system, lights, or accessories.

Any year/make/model of vehicle can be a good one or a lemon, but if you want to find out what kind of problems other people have had with their vehicles, visit the Center for Auto Safety website. You can search by make, model, year and type of problem. This is a MUST VISIT website. Many of the complaints filed are for problems that nobody should be having, especially on low mileage vehicles. It's scary reading!

Here are just a few examples from the Center for Auto Safety website:

Saturn Vue rollovers because the rear suspension collapses

Ford Focus ignition switch problems, rear brake problems, transmission failures, chassis springs breaking.

Ford Windstar, Taurus and Escape transmission problems

Toyota engine sludging problems and timing cover oil leaks

GM 3.8L engine intake manifold gasket coolant leaks

Etc., etc., etc..... There are literally THOUSANDS of complaints on file at this website

Consumer Reports is an excellent source for unbiased used car comparisons. They also publish a yearly Used Car Buyers Guide which lists repair and reliability ratings for most makes and models. The repair data is collected on thousands of vehicles and is analyzed to rank vehicles as good buys or not. In my opinion, they are usually right on the mark.

When buying a late model vehicle, it is a good idea to have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) researched to see if the vehicle has had any accidents in the past, been flood damaged or stolen. The small fee charged for a vehicle report is cheap insurance for the problems it can prevent if the car has a questionable history. CarFax is a good source for vehicle history reports.

Other sources for advice when shopping for a used car or truck include online auto blogs (read what kind of problems people who own certain vehicles are complaining about). Or, do a keyword search online for the year, make and model of vehicle you are thinking about buying. See what kind of comments the owners of these vehicles have posted about their cars.

If you know a mechanic or take your vehicle to a shop you trust, ask your mechanic what he thinks about a particular make or model of vehicle. His advice can be invaluable because he fixes cars for a living and knows which ones have problems and which ones do not.

Shopping for used cars online can save a lot of time and legwork. You can search thousands of listings in your own local area or nationwide. But buying a used car online without actually seeing it or driving it before you buy it can be risky. The seller's claims about their vehicle may be true, or they may be exaggerated or outright lies. Let the buyer beware. You also have to watch out for con artists who post ads for cars that don't exist. They will ask for a deposit or payment in advance, then disappear with your money leaving you smarter but poorer.