Cars are an expensive purchase. Many people go for secondhand or used cars, especially when buying an additional car. Today, the used car market is three times bigger than the new car market. There are several advantages to buying a used car: lower price, more choices, the option of certified pre-owned programs (CPO), lower depreciation, lower insurance, and availability of "almost new" cars for a lower price. Sometimes, the original warranty also gets carried forward into the deal. You may find a used car as old as a 1985 model or as late as a 2005 model.

Used cars may be classified by the price range (economy, mid-range, premium, luxury, exotic); by manufacturer (Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, Ford, Honda, GMC, Hyundai, Homer, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercury, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, or Volvo); by market segment (crossover, diesel, hybrid, performance, high-performance); or by body styles (SUVs, sedans, coupes, convertibles, luxury vehicles, crossovers, sport, wagons, vans, or trucks). Prices of used cars start from $10,000 or even lower.

Used cars can be bought directly from the owner, from dealers, from used car superstores, or from auctions. The dealers can be franchised dealers or independent dealers. Prices vary depending on this factor also. Prices may be reasonable when bought directly from the owner or at the dealer since it is negotiable. They may be lower at auctions. Superstores generally do not allow negotiations on the price. Prices also vary depending upon the distance the car has traveled. Other factors are the condition of the car, place of purchase, the model, the make, and the year when it was first purchased.

Even though many people still prefer a dealer when buying a used car, prices of used cars can also be surveyed over the Internet, where many dealers have websites containing latest information. Most websites also have pictures of the cars along with attractive deals such as discounts and finance options such as loans. You can also get an instant price quote with a click of a button y filling in some basic information.