6 questions to ask before buying your first car

Buying your first car is no walk in the park - it's easy to make mistakes or succumb to common, yet costly, tricks employed by car salesmen.

Without any prior experience, it's hard to know what questions to ask beyond "How much does it cost?" and "Is it a four-wheel drive?"

To help first-time buyers navigate the car purchasing process, we consulted Scott Chesrown, who spent nearly a decade working in auto dealerships before transitioning to VP of Strategy and Business Development of Marketing at Vroom, a New York City-based car sales startup that brings the car buying, financing, and selling process online.

Chesrown recommends that first-time buyers buy used, since models with a history are often available for a fraction of the cost of brand-new ones. This does mean, however, that you have to ask some specific questions.

Below, Chesrown shares the critical questions to ask if you're a first-timer buying a used car. But even if you have your heart set on something brand-new, take a look: Many of these smart questions can help any buyer.