If you are getting ready to purchase a used car, you are probably feeling pretty excited about buying a vehicle. However, you could also be a bit nervous, since you could be a bit worried about ending up with a car that has mechanical issues. Of course, there are some risks that go along with buying a used car, but there are also steps that you can take to help protect yourself from ending up with a faulty vehicle. These are a few tips that can help you avoid getting stuck with a faulty used car.

1. Buy a Car with a Warranty

For one thing, just because many used car sales are final does not mean that all of them are. There are a lot of dealerships that offer warranties of some type on their used cars. Of course, you probably are not going to get a long-term warranty like you would if you were purchasing a brand new car, but buying a vehicle that has a warranty of at least a month or two can give you a chance to try out the car for a little while and to return it if you have any problems.

2. Check it Over Carefully Before You Buy

Although you can protect yourself by buying a car with a warranty so that you can return it if there are any major repair issues, you can help avoid even having to go through this much of a hassle by ensuring that you check the car out carefully before you buy it. It can be easy to get excited about a car that you see for sale, especially if it looks good or if it comes with a low price tag. However, you should not let your excitement get in the way of you carefully inspecting the car before buying it. In fact, you could find that it pays off to hire a mechanic to check out the car for you first; then, you can get a professional's opinion about whether or not the car is a good purchase.

3. Hire a Lawyer

Did you know that many states have "lemon laws" in place that are designed to protect consumers? Basically, these laws prevent car dealers from selling cars that they know are faulty. If you feel that this has happened to you, you may want to hire a lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your state so that you can adequately defend yourself against unscrupulous practices. Contact a firm, like San Jose Lemon Law Center, for more help.