# What is the most bulletproof way to buy a decent used car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996 "2025-03-01T23:55:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/61 "2025-03-14T19:19:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic How do you do that before buying it? Why would the seller trust you to drive their car off somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/62 "2025-03-14T19:21:05Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > How do you do that before buying it? Why would the seller trust you to drive their car off somewhere? I have rarely had an issue with that. Test drive? Or just meet at the mechanic. Say you will buy the car then and there if the mechanic gives the thumbs up. If it aint a beater or a scam, they should allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/63 "2025-03-14T19:25:42Z")
I have had quite a few private sellers say “I don’t know you, I don’t trust you and I don’t have to deal with you. Go away.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/64 "2025-03-14T19:27:44Z")
Then- you dont buy that car, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/65 "2025-03-14T19:34:43Z")
I don’t understand… doesn’t a thorough investigation take hours? So you’d have to schedule a 3 way appointment between you, the seller, and the mechanic, and then… do you just wait there awkwardly twiddling your your thumbs while the seller scowls at you? I guess I’ve just never bought a car this way, so it seems surprising that they’d be willing to spend so much time on each potential buyer. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/66 "2025-03-14T19:39:17Z")
I had more than 1 dealer say, “Sorry, but I can’t have you take it elsewhere because someone else is coming to look at it.” Only a very small percentage of people go through the trouble, and dealers do their best to keep it that way, unfortunately. Also, _if_ an independent mechanic is allowed to inspect the vehicle, it costs money. How many cars do you look at before it just isn’t cost effective to have it looked at by a professional any more. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/67 "2025-03-14T19:41:40Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I don’t understand… doesn’t a thorough investigation take hours? Nope. The major trouble points etc can be checked in under a hour. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I had more than 1 dealer say, “Sorry, but I can’t have you take it elsewhere because someone else is coming to look at it.” When they lie, do you want to buy that car - or any car- there? I mean, they expect a test drive right? I have had dealers agree. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996/68 "2025-03-14T19:44:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have had dealers agree. You don’t know beforehand that the dealer is lying. All I am doing is presenting the other side of the story-an other side I have personally encountered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-bulletproof-way-to-buy-a-decent-used-car/1014996.md?page=3)