great advice damber [as usual]
thought i had it with this
SELECT cus.lname, CC.reg, CBB.bookst, CBB.bookend, CC.carid, CBB.courtcarbookid,tran.trandesc, CC.model
FROM courtcar AS CC
LEFT JOIN(SELECT CB.bookst, CB.bookend, CB.carid, CB.courtcarbookid, CB.cusid
FROM courtcarbook AS CB
WHERE...