• Make a low offer and then leave your phone number with the seller. If the seller is not able to strike a deal, he will consider your offer seriously.

• Interact with people and let friends, family and others know you're looking for a car. It has been observed that people prefer to sell their car to a friend than advertising and showing to others, which consumes time.

• The first thing that you should check in a car is its engine. If it looks ok to you, only then ask a mechanic to have a look at the car. Get the mechanic's word on the car and you will come to know if there is any wear and tear in the car that may occur in a year or two. Make a note of this and bargain with the seller.

• Check out if there is a public auction in your area. If not, maybe you can go with a dealer friend and give him a $100 to buy a car for you.

• Cars that sit on the lot for months, dealers will often sell these cars at a loss. Again, you may want to leave your phone number with a low offer.

• Rental company cars are sold fairly cheap, especially when they get the new ones in.

• Credit unions and some small banks also sell their repossessed cars. To buy such cars you have to bid on paper, sometimes even with a $50 deposit, which is returned back to you if not the winning bidder.

• High mileage is preferable, but if a car that costs $500 less and uses only $400 more gas in the next two years you expect to own it.

These tips will certainly help you the next time you are out to buy a used car.