how do i get a cheap relaible car

[AMAZINWOMAN]

i need a car to help get kids from a to b, shopping, days out, visit friends as they live miles away. But my budget is next to nothing! I dont know anything about cars!!
do i just buy one private thru paper and hope for best it will be reliable? ive lookd at garages, and it will be too expensive there. but im really scared to buy a car and it will be a heap of junk, and i couod have used the money for a well deserved holiday. How do i go about repairs too? some gargaes charge more if they think women are clueless about cars

If you're going to buy a cheap car privately, it is wise to spend out on getting a mechanic to check it out first. The AA can do this for you which when i enquired a few years back they charged about £200 for this service.

Seems a lot of money but worth it in case as you say you end up with something that needs endless repairs.

The advantages of buying from a dealer is you get some kind of guarantee.

Regard to repairs - i'm not sure its true that garages think women are clueless, i think many possibly succumb to the female charm and give better treatment. Ask around and use garages with a good reputation.