The process of buying a used car can be stressful, but with these simple tricks in mind, your experience can be a lot smoother.

The first step in buying a used car is deciding what style of car you want, and the best way to make this decision is to think about your daily life. What will you be using the car for? Do you need a simple point-A-to-point-B car? A get-me-there-in-style car? An off-roading monster? All these styles have their individual benefits, but the most important thing is to get the best car for the job. I mean, you wouldn’t want to use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail.

The second step is figuring out your budget. A small budget is not the end of the world, but you need to know how to work with what you have.

The best way to maximize your budget is to look for a car in a town or state that has a low automotive economy, such as Akron, Ohio; Stamford, Conn., and New York City. All these cities have a low demand for cars, which means cars there sell for less than the national average.

If going out of state isn’t right for you, then another great trick to save money is to buy an older car. An older car may not come with all the bells and whistles, but you can find a higher class vehicle for the same price as a brand new lower class model. Take BMW, for example: You can buy a brand new M2 for $50,000 or a used M4 for the same price.

The final step is going to the dealership or meeting with the seller. It is important that you give the impression that you are knowledgeable about the car you are interested in so you don’t get taken advantage of. You don’t have to know everything about the car, but you have to know enough to notice when you’re being ripped off, so always do your research.

The most important step in this process is to ask for an inspection of the car and, if permitted, a test drive. You don’t have to perform the inspection yourself — take it to another dealership or someone who is knowledgeable about cars. It might cost a little money, but you must know exactly what it is you’re buying, especially when it’s something like a car that can be incredibly expensive.