The Great Recession, as it has been called, made many American families re-think their spending habits. Big ticket purchases, such as cars were placed under close scrutiny because of the impact it has on a family’s budget. Used cars, in these difficult economic times, are the best option. Families do not have to worry as much about depreciation while they save themselves thousands of dollars. The problem, of course, is ensuring the quality of the vehicle. You can start by choosing a good brand, such as a used Volkswagen. New Jersey has one of the earliest auto trade associations and its web site allows you to search for dealerships in your area that sell that specific brand. If you are car shopping in New Jersey you can type something like “used VW” into your favorite search engine and begin there.

Wherever you might be, and whichever your favorite vehicle brand is, here are 3 “don’ts” to keep in mind when you go car shopping:

1. Do not go to the dealership unprepared — Not only should you do some in-depth research about the brand and model you are looking to buy, you should also investigate the dealerships that are offering it. Look them up in the Better Business Bureau web site and weed out those that have a lot of complaints.

As far as the brand and model of your future used car goes, you should have a couple of options researched. That way you do not limit your choices while your gathering information at the dealerships and really do walk away with the best deal in regards to price and quality.

2. Do not buy without test driving — You have to get a feel for the car to make sure it is the right fit. You also have to make sure everything is functioning properly and that there are not any strange noises coming from the engine.

Before actually taking the car out for a spin, you should check that other operating features don’t go unchecked, such as the door’s and window controls, radio and CD player, etc.

3. Do not buy without a professional inspection — Even though you might have driven the vehicle and not noticed anything out of the ordinary, it does not hurt to have a professional look at it. A qualified mechanic can examine the car with their knowledgebase and detect things that you didn’t notice.

A professional inspection will also measure the present condition of the working parts and determine if something is likely to go wrong in the near future.

A quality used car can make a world of difference for a family’s budget. As the old saying goes “A penny earned, is a penny saved” and the thousands of dollars your family pockets as a result of buying a used car instead of a brand new one is something of great value. That is money you can put towards the children’s college fund or the family’s next vacation. Do your homework and enjoy your new (used) car and the money it saved you, today.