Look for a three- to four-year-old vehicle with as few miles as possible. Our 10 smart moves to buy a great used car also can help you find an affordable, reliable car that hasn't been abused.

We won't list prices here, because they vary so much. But when you've found one you like, use Edmunds.com or Kelley Blue Book to see how much it's worth.

Honda Civic

The Civic is the used market's gold standard for compact cars. It carries high resale value, which works against you as the buyer, but in return, you get one of the most proven and reliable cars in the class.

Most recent models have the same engine regardless of price, but watch for anti-lock brakes, which are not standard on less-expensive versions. We'd advise against leather and other unnecessary add-ons.

Civic is also top of the class for another reason: outstanding handling and great outward visibility. We think these are a couple of key attributes for new drivers.

The Civic should have at least some cachet with your kid, because it's so popular with tuners -- 21st-Century hot rodders with a passion for customizing small cars. (Check out any of the "Fast and Furious" movies or video games to see what we mean.)

Pontiac Vibe

Here's a highly useful hatchback that, under the skin, really is a Toyota. The Vibe is the mechanical twin of the Toyota Matrix, and both are built in a California plant shared by General Motors and Toyota.

Apart from its wonderful utility, we like the Vibe for its bulletproof, 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine. It is famously underpowered, once again fulfilling our first rule of equipping a teenager driver: Puny engines are your friend.

The safety equipment is fairly comprehensive, and it's not hard to find Vibes with anti-lock brakes. Recent models even have optional stability control and side-curtain airbags.

Why do we choose the Vibe instead of the Toyota Matrix? There are a lot more Vibes, and they tend to be cheaper than a comparable Matrix.

Scion xA

Although Scion is the Toyota brand aimed at kids, we see as many empty nesters as freshly minted drivers behind the wheel.

The crisp and efficient xA hatchback has a gloriously weak, 103-horsepower engine. There are motorcycles with a lot more juice, so it's hard to imagine your teen getting too rowdy in one.

The flip side of the xA's tiny engine is wicked fuel economy. It's hard to get less than 30 miles per gallon in any situation.

In addition to a surprising amount of interior space for a subcompact, the xA has standard anti-lock brakes and many can be found with the optional side airbag package that includes front-seat-mounted bags and curtains to protect both front and rear occupants.

The Scion only came into being in the 2005 model year, so of course you won't find one older. But the low original price means even lightly used xAs are available for well less than 15 grand.

By Bill Visnic

Interest.com Contributing Editor

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