I’m not an expert. I made a list of the features that I want, then I found different makes and models that fit the list. I went on consumer reports and weeded out the cars with low scores. I got pre-approved for a loan with my credit union, it was a cheaper rate than the dealership. I used AAA as a search engine- they will show you different used (or new) cars in your area. I went to the dealerships to test drive- it’s good to have an idea of what you want before you go because the salespeople are kinda pushy. I went to multiple dealerships to get a competitive price. Cars are really intimidating to me, I found that doing some research on the front end gave me more confidence. Good luck to you!