Advice needed on buying used car from private seller

I'm thinking of buying a used vehicle, probably a Honda CRV or Toyota RAV,
mainly because of their reputation for reliability, decent gas mileage, and
a certain (if limited) ability to handle high-clearance dirt roads.

My question is not so much about these particular models, but about any
advice anyone cares to share about the buying process. Not caring to go
through all the stupid and frustrating salesperson games on a car lot, I
intend to buy from a private seller. However, I'm sure this method has its
own risks. For example:

How high is the risk of some sort of fraud--e.g., someone selling a stolen
car with a forged title, or other such things? And do used car salesmen
often pose as private sellers? (I once had a neighbor who sold a different
car in front of his apartment every month or two--seemed quite suspicious.)
Are there any red flags of seller behavior to look for that will alert me to
the possibility of the car having problems, a shady history, etc? Are there
websites that give advice on the buying process?

 

www.edmunds.com has a used car appraiser that might help a
lot in the bargaining process.

Test drive at least half an hour. Check the radiator coolant
level before, during, and after. Check the quality of the
coolant in the radiator tank when the engine is stone cold,
and also in the reservoir. Have a mechanic check out the
car. Find out when the timing belt was last changed and get
documentation of that and as much other maintenance as
possible.

Don't make a decision on the spot. Insist you need a day to
think over the asking price and what, if anything, you'll
offer. Report back here with anything suspect.

 

find a public library
read a copy of the consumer reports used car buying guide

 

And if possible, do the final transaction at the DMV.

 

You might want to get a 1 month subscription to Carfax.com... I
recently bought a 2002 civic and while shopping carfax was invaluable
in weeding out 2-3 owner cars, odometer fraud, wrecks, etc (probably
looked at over 50 cars on the internet and 6 in person in that amount
of time). Took me 3 1/2 weeks to find what I wanted, but now I have a
car I absolutely love and I got a great deal to boot.

I used carfax in tandem with consumerreports.org (got a subscription
there, too) to check for problems with different model years. Also
Edmonds.com to check for blue book values.

Check under the carpet in the trunk for water damage... LOTS of
"Katrina" cars out there or so I have heard.

Take your time and be sure seller agrees to let you take the car to a
reputable mechanic for a once-over. If they refuse I'd be very
suspicious.

Most important, DON'T BE IN A HURRY. You'll be very sorry if you
impulse-buy.

Good luck!!