Student Drivers: Do Your Homework Before Buying A Car

(NAPSI)-Families looking for a safe, reliable and reasonably priced car for a college driver get better grades when they do their homework.

Automotive sites such as AutoTrader.com contain useful tools and information to help you figure out exactly what type of car is right for you. Even before considering make and model, the first step is often deciding whether a new, used or Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) car is best for your budget.

"Certified Pre-Owned cars seem ideal for the student driver-offering the experience of buying a new car for a used car price," said car expert Chip Perry, President and CEO, AutoTrader.com.

CPO cars are used, but are often selected for their nearly new condition. They go through rigorous inspection to become certified-to gain the "seal of approval"-by the original manufacturer, which often provides a warranty.

To some, CPO cars mean being able to buy a luxury brand for less, while others look at it as peace of mind. You can request the list used during inspection and know what repairs or maintenance work was done. Even better, many CPO programs offer roadside assistance and free maintenance.

After you've compiled all your research on the type of car you want, you can save time and energy by shopping for your car by make and model on a classified Web site such as AutoTrader.com. If you're on a tight budget, as many college students are, you can easily search for and compare similar cars in your price range.

Just like at school, do your homework, compile the research and then make an educated decision. Applying that to buying a car will put you a step ahead of the class, and closer to finding your perfect car.

To learn more about buying a car, visit www.autotrader.com.