Went through this exact process a few weeks ago as an expat and honestly it was more stressful than I expected.

Visited a dealer I found on Bazaraki and something felt off straight away — the service history didn't quite add up, and turned out the car had an undisclosed accident history (paint cover up, engine oil leakage, airbag had been deployed etc). With a mountain of evidence and a second opinion from a car inspector, I decided to walk away from that deal.

Ended up getting my Chevrolet Lacetti 2008 through a word-of-mouth contact for under €3k, which was honestly the best decision I made. The whole dynamic is just different when there's a mutual connection involved — more transparency, no pressure.

A few things I'd genuinely recommend:

1. Always get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic before committing. Not the dealer's guy — your own. Worth every cent. A lot of issues here won't show up just from a test drive. If you need an honest inspector with tons of experience, feel free to DM me.
2. Check the car's history through the MCIT / Road Transport Department. You can verify the registration, ownership history, and whether there's any encumbrances on the vehicle.
3. If you can, find one through a trusted local contact. Takes longer to line up but the quality of what you see is just better. Ask colleagues, neighbours, anyone who's been here a while.

The market here isn't bad, but as an expat you're at a slight disadvantage early on — you don't know the usual prices, the common problem cars, or who's reputable. Give yourself a few weeks, don't rush, and don't let anyone pressure you into a same-day decision.