What I did was get great advice from knowledgeable people. A friend from church helped me evaluate used cars early on, which helped build my confidence to figure out what I should be looking for.

Find the True Market Value of the vehicle at Edmunds.com. This is usually more accurate than Kelly Blue Book (and often a much smaller dollar value). Come prepared with the TMV when you’re checking out a vehicle.

Most importantly, remember to thank EVERYONE who helped you out along the way.