As more Americans are looking to save money during the recession, many are turning to used cars. But there are still tips used car shoppers can take to save even more money when it comes to getting a loan.

Jesse Toprak, analyst for car research and buying website Edmunds.com, told the Associated Press that car buyers should attempt to get preapproved for a loan before heading out and looking for the vehicle they want to purchase. He says by doing this a used car buyer will know how much they can spend and can potentially work out a better deal.

The Associated Press also says car buyers should be aware of their credit score before negotiating deals. A better credit score is most likely going to result in lower interest payments which could potentially save thousands of dollars over the life of the car.

Anyone can receive a free credit report once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com, according to the AP.

It seems that in an attempt to reduce monthly car payments, some used car buyers are also increasing the length of their loans. According to a recent study from Cars.com, the median length of loans increased from 48 months last October to 60 months in the most recent survey in February.

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