Car buying tips: Be prepared before you hit the dealership

Knowing some basic car buying tips before heading to a dealership can make the process go more smoothly, and can also save money, according to Chicago Tribune advice columnist Jon Yates.

Yates identifies a number of resources - including the Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com - which can help used car buyers determine the base market value of a vehicle, though these figures represent a range, not an exact figure.

Using reports from Carfax and AutoCheck can help uncover if the vehicle is a lemon or has been in a serious accident, Yates reports. In addition, ensuring the vehicle's oil and transmission fluid dipsticks do not display telltale signs of poor maintenance can help a prospective buyer avoid a bad deal.

Keeping one's options open and not being pressured by salespeople, experts say, is another way to stay clear of potentially poor deals.