Auto blogger's tips for buying a beater on Craigslist

So, money's tight and you're looking to cut back. If you're like a lot of Americans -- you'll look to your set of wheels.

And, as long as you're not concerned with what you'll be driving, auto blogger, Kurt Ernst from Ridelust.com , believes you can score a car for under $1,000 dollars on Craigslist.

Ernst says don't worry about appearance. NewsChannel 5 stopped by D and R Automotive Specialities in Riviera Beach to see what mechanics there had to say. Doug Parlamento, the shop's owner, said appearance doesn't always matter, but there are some things you need to watch out for.

"Might have exterior issues with paint. If there's visual damage, lights broken, that's going to matter," said Parlamento.

As for the car's interior, Parlamento says to look inside to see if the person took care of it. He believes that's going to translate to what can happen in the future. Ernst from Ridelust..com also says you're going to have to compromise. Parlamento says there are some things that are just not worth the trouble fixing.  "If the transmission is making a lot of noise, that would be a red flag."

The ridelust.com blog also says to look for cars that have license plates in pictures because no plate could mean the car is parked more than it's driven. 

Parlamento says there might be a good reason for having no tag. "They may have transferred the tag to new vehicle."

Tip number five from Ridelust.com: No picture, no call. Parlamento agrees.

"Let's relate that to dating websites. Do you want to go to an ad that doesn't have a picture?"

For more tips on how to find a beater under $1,000 go to the Ridelust.com website.