Category
Buying Tips
Practical advice for buyers shopping for a used car on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or other private channels.
Read the Buying Tips pillar guideDuplicate Title: Red Flag or Routine?
Most duplicate titles are innocent. One scheme uses them to hide a lien, and the paper looks clean when it happens. How to tell the difference before you pay.
Read articleMotorcycle VIN Check Before You Buy
A motorcycle VIN check takes two minutes and most of it is free. Where to find the VIN, what to decode, and which records only a paid report shows.
Read articleWhat Is Title Jumping? Open Title Red Flags
Title jumping means the seller never put the car in their own name. You inherit the gap, the back fees, and a car the DMV will not register. Spot it before you pay.
Read articleOnline Used Car Scams: How to Spot Them
Most online car scams need one thing from you: money that cannot be reversed. Here are the common setups and the checks that stop them.
Read articleHow to Check a Used Car for Open Recalls
An open recall is a free, unfixed safety repair the previous owner skipped. Here's how to check any used car by VIN in under a minute, before you buy.
Read articleWhen Is the Best Time to Buy a Used Car?
Used-car prices follow the seasons, and the cheapest window is usually October through December. Here's when to buy, and how to vet the car you find.
Read articleBuying a Used Hybrid or EV in 2026? Check This First
Used hybrids and EVs are the fastest-rising slice of the used market. Battery health, damage history, and open recalls make a history check pay off.
Read articleFord Rollaway Recall: F-150, Explorer & More
Ford is recalling 741,195 F-150, Explorer, Expedition and Lincoln SUVs that can roll away. Here is how to check a used one by VIN before you buy.
Read articleMustang Mach-E Recall: Check Before You Buy
Ford is recalling 42,784 Mustang Mach-E SUVs from 2021 to 2023. Here is how to tell if a used one is affected and how to check any car by VIN.
Read articleHow to Check If a Car Is Stolen
Worried a used car might be stolen? Here is how to check by VIN, title, and a few quick red flags before you hand over any money.
Read articleHow to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car
Flood-damaged cars get cleaned up and resold nationwide, often with a clean-looking title. Here's how to spot one by smell, sight, and VIN history before you buy.
Read articleUsed-Car Prices Are High: How to Buy or Sell Privately
Used-car values are near a three-year high in 2026, and more deals are happening privately. Here's how to protect yourself buying or selling.
Read articleHow to Buy a Used Car with Confidence: A First-Timer's Step-by-Step Guide
Never bought a used car? A plain-language, step-by-step guide from setting a budget to signing the title so you can buy with confidence.
Read article5 Things to Check Before You Buy a Used Car
A practical pre-purchase checklist that takes about five minutes and catches the most common ways used-car buyers get burned: title-washing, odometer rollback, and open recalls.
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