Shortlist 1-2 cars from all your visits. Make sure you check the titles and verify that the seller’s name is on the title. Look at the title first, before you check the car as if the title isn’t clean, the car isn’t worth your time.

Save yourself the trouble of doing the inspection yourself and drive the car straight to your trusted/honest mechanic and have him do a pre purchase inspection for a small fee. 

Stick to Toyotas & Hondas as they have the least amount of problems and usually last the longest with just minimal maintenance. 

Good luck!

If you don't feel 100% confident about a purchase, then walk away. Don't feel pressured. Be patient.

How are you going to pay for it? How much will insurance be? What is your disposal income? Do you have a big down payment? Can you make payments every month for the next several years?

Tough questions, huh?

First thing, before you ever think about make, model, miles, dealer or private party, any of that stuff, make an appointment with your credit union or bank, ask them to do a pre-approval analysis for you. If you are an account holder, they will almost always do it for free.

They will look at your income, living expenses, existing debts, credit rating (if any), and a lot of other factors, and determine if you are financially able to purchase a car, and if so, what your maximum dollar amount would be.

Don't be surprised if they tell you "No", but they may tell you what you would have to do, and how much money you must save, to qualify for a purchase.

Sometimes your situation may be marginal, and a purchase may be possible with a co-maker (that's the legal word for a co-signer).

If you can be approved, you must provide proof of insurance before any processing will occur. And for first-time buyers, cost of insurance for 3 years can easily exceed value of a vehicle.

Be smart, do the right thing, get the approval analysis.

Don't buy any car without bringing car to a mechanic. Stay away from all Fiat-Chrysler-Ram-Jeep models.

If your willing to get a little dirty look under the car and check for major rust. Surface rust is okay but not great. The next thing I would check is the tire tread. While your down checking tread check if any wheel is missing a lug nut or if there is a broken or missing stud. You can do that by taking a penny and if you see all of Lincoln's head, it will need new tires. Check under the hood to make sure all the fluids look like they should and that they are all at the proper level. If you have a scan tool (if the car is made after 1996) check and see if it has any codes. I personally don't worry too much about EVAP codes. Check and make sure all the lights on the interior and exterior of the car work. Check for flood damage (corroded wires on the interior, heavy rust, etc). If all this looks good to you then and only then would I prosede with sales (oh and don't for get a test drive)

In the end, it is best to hire a mechanic to check the car for you.

A mechanic can tell if a car has been in a major accident (you don't want something that was heavily damaged, no matter how well they fixed it).  He or she can tell if the engine or transmission are in good condition, check the electronics, suspension, etc.

Most people here will point you towards Toyota's and Honda's. 

Here's one of Scotty's videos on this issue (he has done a number of them on this) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rks40ng2C2Y