5 On Your Side shares tips for buying a used car

Dan Barkyoumb says his car is on its last leg and barely getting him around.

"My car started making a weird noise. My air conditioner stopped working, again," he described. "I'm done. I'm buying something else."

So, Barkyoumb started looking for a used car, and like so many others looking to buy, he found that it's a challenge right now.

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"The shortage of new cars available for sale, right now, has actually made the demand for used cars jump too. The average price of a used car jumped 12.5 percent over the past year," said John Linkov, an auto editor for Consumer Reports.

Linkov suggested prospective buyers research current pricing and deals on several models to increase the likelihood of finding something that fits the budget.

“So I started looking between CR-Vs, RAV4s and CX-5," said Barkyoumb. "I researched other dealerships just to see what they were charging for similar cars.”

Before finalizing a purchase, Linkov recommends some additional research.

Linkov also recommends getting as many guarantees as possible in writing about the condition of the car.

Those looking to trade in an old car will find that dealers are ready to buy, especially models less than five years old.