# How to buy a used car without getting burned

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv21yajj001vif06uyi1otku
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 11 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: Buyer, Seller, Independent mechanic, DMV

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Pre-purchase inspection** (How to buy a used car without getting burned; painful): Skipping the inspection is the costliest shortcut

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## How to buy a used car without getting burned

Lanes:
- Buyer: person / role (id `buyer`)
- Seller: person / role (id `seller`)
- Independent mechanic: person / role (id `mechanic`)
- DMV: person / role (id `dmv`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Set a budget and check your loan options** [subprocess; Buyer; id `u1`], links to the published process "How your credit score is built and what moves it" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21y3f50002if06wk74w3tv; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21y3f50002if06wk74w3tv/export)
   - then Search listings for models with good records
2. **Search listings for models with good records** [task; Buyer; id `u2`]
   - then Share the VIN and service history
3. **Share the VIN and service history** [task; Seller; id `u3`]
   - then Run a history report for crashes and title problems
4. **Run a history report for crashes and title problems** [task; Buyer; id `u4`]
   - then Test drive on city and highway roads
5. **Test drive on city and highway roads** [task; Buyer; id `u5`]
   - then Pre-purchase inspection
6. **Pre-purchase inspection** [task; Independent mechanic; id `u6`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (painful): Skipping the inspection is the costliest shortcut
   - then Any big problems?
7. **Any big problems?** [decision; Buyer; id `u7`]
   - if "Yes" go to Walk away or negotiate a lower price; if "No" go to Negotiate and agree a price
8. **Walk away or negotiate a lower price** [task; Buyer; id `u8`]
   - then Search listings for models with good records
9. **Negotiate and agree a price** [task; Buyer; id `u9`]
   - then Transfer the title and register the car
10. **Transfer the title and register the car** [task; DMV; id `u10`]
   - then Insure it and drive home
11. **Insure it and drive home** [end; Buyer; id `u11`]

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_buyer["Buyer"]
    n_u1[["Set a budget and check your loan options"]]
    n_u2["Search listings for models with good records"]
    n_u4["Run a history report for crashes and title problems"]
    n_u5["Test drive on city and highway roads"]
    n_u7{"Any big problems?"}
    n_u8["Walk away or negotiate a lower price"]
    n_u9["Negotiate and agree a price"]
    n_u11(["Insure it and drive home"])
  end
  subgraph l_seller["Seller"]
    n_u3["Share the VIN and service history"]
  end
  subgraph l_mechanic["Independent mechanic"]
    n_u6["Pre-purchase inspection"]
  end
  subgraph l_dmv["DMV"]
    n_u10["Transfer the title and register the car"]
  end
  n_u1 --> n_u2
  n_u2 --> n_u3
  n_u3 --> n_u4
  n_u4 --> n_u5
  n_u5 --> n_u6
  n_u6 --> n_u7
  n_u7 -->|"Yes"| n_u8
  n_u7 -->|"No"| n_u9
  n_u8 --> n_u2
  n_u9 --> n_u10
  n_u10 --> n_u11
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "How to buy a used car without getting burned",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "buyer",
          "name": "Buyer",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "seller",
          "name": "Seller",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "mechanic",
          "name": "Independent mechanic",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "dmv",
          "name": "DMV",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "u1",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21y3f50002if06wk74w3tv",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How your credit score is built and what moves it"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Set a budget and check your loan options"
        },
        {
          "id": "u2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Search listings for models with good records"
        },
        {
          "id": "u3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "seller",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Share the VIN and service history"
        },
        {
          "id": "u4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Run a history report for crashes and title problems"
        },
        {
          "id": "u5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Test drive on city and highway roads"
        },
        {
          "id": "u6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "mechanic",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u7"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Skipping the inspection is the costliest shortcut",
            "level": 2
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Pre-purchase inspection"
        },
        {
          "id": "u7",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u8",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "u9",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Any big problems?"
        },
        {
          "id": "u8",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Walk away or negotiate a lower price"
        },
        {
          "id": "u9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Negotiate and agree a price"
        },
        {
          "id": "u10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "dmv",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "u11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Transfer the title and register the car"
        },
        {
          "id": "u11",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Insure it and drive home"
        }
      ],
      "title": "How to buy a used car without getting burned",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```