Ride To Work Ministry Non-Profit Inc.
Free Educational Resource

Learn How to Buy a Used Car With Confidence.

Short, practical lessons designed for people who don't know much about cars—but want to know enough to make a smarter buying decision.

Presented by Ride To Work Ministry
Educational course content provided by Car Value Scout
17 Lessons • Free • Self-Paced

You Can Learn This.

You may be thinking, “I could never learn all this stuff about buying a car.”

You don't need to be a mechanic or a car expert. Take one short lesson at a time and learn at your own pace.

“Can't” often means “won't.”

Don't decide you can't before you try. This course was deliberately simplified so that someone with little or no automotive knowledge can understand it and use it.

I tested the entire course with my wife, who knew virtually nothing about cars or mechanics. Afterward, she told me she felt confident that she could buy a used car herself.

Start with the Introduction and work through the lessons in order. There is no test and no deadline.

Section I — Buying a Used Car

Start here and work through the lessons in order.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Start here. Learn how the course works and how to get the most from each short lesson.

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LESSON 1

Lesson 1 — 10 Questions That Separate Smart Car Buyers From Suckers

Learn the key questions that can quickly separate a smart used-car purchase from a costly mistake.

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LESSON 2

Lesson 2 — Exterior Used Car Inspection Checklist Before You Buy

Use a practical exterior inspection to spot warning signs before you commit to buying a vehicle.

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LESSON 3

Lesson 3 — Used Car Interior Inspection Checklist (Don't Buy Until You Watch This)

Work through the interior and learn what to look for before you decide a used car is worth buying.

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LESSON 4

Lesson 4 — 15 Minute Used Car Road Test That Could Save You Thousands

Learn how to perform a focused road test and identify problems that could save you thousands of dollars.

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LESSON 5

Lesson 5 — How to Use Google to Decode OBD2 Codes Before Buying a Used Car

Learn how to use Google to research OBD2 trouble codes before buying a used vehicle.

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LESSON 6

Lesson 6 — OBD2 Scanner Tutorial for Beginners (Fast & Easy)

A beginner-friendly introduction to using an OBD2 scanner and understanding what it tells you.

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LESSON 7

Lesson 7 — How to Tell if Someone Cleared OBD2 Codes Before Selling a Used Car

Learn how to recognize signs that OBD2 trouble codes may have been cleared before a vehicle was offered for sale.

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Section II — How to Read a VIN History Report

Learn how to understand the history behind the vehicle you're considering.

LESSON 8

Lesson 8 — VIN History Series Lesson 8 Introduction | Complete Used Car Buying Course

Begin the VIN history section and learn why a vehicle's history is an important part of the buying process.

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LESSON 9

Lesson 9 — VIN History Lesson 9 — What Is a VIN History Report

Learn what a VIN history report is and how it can help you understand a vehicle before you buy it.

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LESSON 10

Lesson 10 — VIN History Lesson 10 — Accident Report

Learn how to evaluate accident information in a vehicle's history.

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LESSON 11

Lesson 11 — VIN History Lesson 11 — Ownership

Learn how ownership history can provide important clues about a used vehicle.

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LESSON 12

Lesson 12 — VIN History Lesson 12 — Salvage Title

Learn what a salvage title means and why it matters when evaluating a used vehicle.

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LESSON 13

Lesson 13 — VIN History Lesson 13 — True Mileage

Learn how mileage information in a vehicle history can help you identify potential problems.

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LESSON 14

Lesson 14 — VIN History Lesson 14 — Recalls

Learn how to check recall information and understand why recalls matter when buying a used car.

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LESSON 15

Lesson 15 — VIN History Lesson 15 — Maintenance

Learn what maintenance information can reveal about a vehicle's past and potential future needs.

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LESSON 16

Lesson 16 — VIN History Lesson 16 — Complete Walk-Through Final

Bring the VIN-history lessons together in a final walk-through of the complete process.

Lesson 17 — How to Use CarValueScout to Find a Used Car's True Value

Learn how to use Car Value Scout to research a used vehicle's true value before making a buying decision.

Are you an organization helping people obtain reliable transportation? Learn about the free organization program.

Ready to Start?

Start with the Introduction. Then take the lessons one at a time. When you're ready, come back for the next one.

Start the Course