Car shopping: safe used and new cars

Plain guides for choosing a safe car and checking a used car before you buy

The car you buy decides how well it protects you for years. This page brings together our guides on choosing a safe car, checking a used car’s history and hidden damage, and the insurance to set up before you drive it home.

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Choosing a safe car

Look for strong crash protection and proven safety features, and check for open recalls on any car you consider. Parents can start with our guide to a safe first car for a teen.

Start hereChoosing a safe first car for your teen: what matters mostHow to pick a teen's first car using size, crash ratings, safety features and recallsRead the guideVehicle recalls and safety defects: how to check, fix and reportHow to check for open recalls, get free repairs and report safety defectsRead the guideAftermarket modifications and crash protection: what to check before you modify or buyHow lifts, bumpers, seats and tires can change how air bags and belts protect youRead the guideCar safety technologyPlain guides to your car's safety features, what they do and where they fall shortSee the hubCrash test ratings explained: how to read NHTSA stars and IIHS awardsWhat government stars and insurance industry awards measure and how to compare carsRead the guideWho sets vehicle safety rules: NHTSA, recalls and the agencies behind your carWhich agencies set car safety rules, how recalls work and how to report a defectRead the guide

Checking a used car

A clean history report doesn’t always tell the whole story. Learn how to spot title washing, flood damage, a past air bag deployment, cleared warning codes and repairs that left safety systems unchecked.

Start hereUsed car inspections should cover the structure, air bags, seat belts and safety sensorsWhat to check beyond the engine and how to weigh what the inspection findsRead the guideVehicle history reports have blind spots: why a clean report still needs an inspectionWhere history reports fall short and how to check the car itself before you buyRead the guideTitle washing: why a clean title can hide a damaged past and how to check before you buyHow damage brands vanish between states and the checks that reveal a car’s historyRead the guideSalvage and rebuilt titles: what the label tells a buyer, and what it leaves outWhat state rebuilt inspections miss and how to check a branded car before you buyRead the guideFlood damaged cars: how hidden water damage can knock out air bags and safety electronicsHow floodwater harms wiring and sensors and what to check before you drive or buyRead the guideHow to check a used car for a prior air bag deployment before you buyUse records, a warning light test and visual clues to judge a past air bag repairRead the guideCleared trouble codes in a used car: how to spot warning light tamperingWhy a dark dashboard is not proof and how a scan reveals erased warningsRead the guideUsed car with a replaced windshield or bumper: confirm its safety sensors were calibratedHow to spot past glass or bumper work and confirm the safety features still workRead the guideBuying a used EV or hybrid with a past collision: why the battery needs its own inspectionWhere the car was hit, what to check on the battery and which records to requestRead the guideCounterfeit and substandard replacement air bags: a hidden risk in repaired carsHow fake inflators get into cars, the warning signs and how to check a car safelyRead the guide

Insurance before you drive it home

Set up the right coverage before you leave the lot. These guides explain new car replacement, GAP coverage and how to review your policy each year.

Start hereNew car and better car replacement coverage: how it differs from actual cash valueWhat the extra payout covers after a total loss, who qualifies and what to askRead the guideGAP coverage on a car loan or lease: what it pays, what it skips and how to get a refundWhen GAP makes sense, how waivers differ from insurance and how to claim money backRead the guideAuto insurance declarations page: a yearly line by line review before your policy renewsCatch wrong drivers, cars, addresses and low limits before you need to file a claimRead the guide

More to read

Want to read more? See our guides to car safety technology, or browse every used car and repair guide in our library.

Car safety technologyVehicle repair guides

These guides offer general education, not legal, mechanical or financial advice. Have any used car inspected by a qualified mechanic before you buy, and check for open recalls at NHTSA.gov.

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Safe Driving Resource Center

Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.

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