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Ask the owner if they have documentation of all maintenance and repairs. If they have the bills, they have the records. Anyone can say they changed the oil every 3000 miles. But bills for materils or the service make it obvious. And make sure that the car in question is the one on the bills; check the license plate on the car and the service invoice.
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Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations on a mechanic. Tell the mechanic that you want an evaluation before sale and that you don’t know much. Tell him that you also need a mechanic for the future. If you like the response from one among at least 3 mechanics, try it out.
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In MD the state inspection is performed by a private garage licensed to do the work. Since this is your first car, buy one with the inspection already done. You will know it’s done if the seller has a certificate of inspection. It is not the same as the pre-purchase inspection becuse it is largely a safety inspection. The steering or transmission could be in poor condition and still pass state inspection.
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You can use those sources to check cars out, but you need to use local resources like the newspaper and Craigslist (if it’s in your area). Test drive a few cars before you commit to a serious search. Get used to the action before you dive in. Do tell the seller that you are seriously interested in a car, and it could be his, but don’t jump immediately.
Good luck, have fun, and keep in touch. We all want to help you make a good choice.