Advice Library
Free guides for buying, owning, and handing over cars without payments. Written in plain language, growing over time.
Organized by the five steps to a paid-for car — start where you are. The same step tags are used in our Facebook group, so you can find the same help there.
Step 1: Save — #SaveForCar
Start now, save what you can. Find a place for your money that's accessible — but not too accessible. That's how you build your Paid For Car fund.
Coming soon: a short Save guide. In the meantime, this is the savings-account roundup shared with Step 1:
Step 2: Research — #ResearchForCar
Learn what a reliable car really costs, and start looking online. Know your number before you ever talk to a seller.
Reliable cars under $10k
The sedans, SUVs, and trucks with the best track records under ten grand — with price and mileage bands and what to watch for.
Read the guide →Useful link: CarGurus: Best used cars under $5,000 →
Step 3: Buy smart — #BuySmartForCar
Inspect it, check the title, and get it in writing. The right paid-for car is out there — make sure it's really yours.
The 15-Minute Inspection
What to check before you buy a cheap car — a walk-around checklist that catches the problems that turn bargains into burdens.
Read the guide →Title Exchange
How to hand over a car the right way: titles, bills of sale, liens, plates, and the steps that protect both sides.
Read the guide →Dealers Are Paying Less — So Negotiate
Wholesale prices are dropping but lot prices aren't. How to negotiate the out-the-door price — and why your feet are your strongest tool.
Read the guide →Step 4: Maintain — #MaintainForCar
Cheap maintenance that keeps a paid-for car paid-for — so a small repair doesn't turn back into a payment.
Coming soon: short maintenance guides, including the monthly oil check.
Step 5: Pass it on — #PassItOnForCar
Pass it on through the Giving Lot — with dignity, honesty, and real paperwork.
The Giving Lot
How Givers pass cars to people who need them — cheaply or free, with dignity and real paperwork.
See how it works →Title Exchange
How to hand over a car the right way: titles, bills of sale, liens, plates, and the steps that protect both sides. Also listed under Step 3.
Read the guide →Bill of Sale
A one-page bill of sale for a Giving Lot handoff. Print two copies — one for the Giver, one for the receiver.
Download the PDF →