How to inspect a used car before buying

Teach: How to inspect a used car before buying

What to say

To inspect a used car before buying, see it in daylight with a cold engine, walk around it for rust, uneven gaps and mismatched paint, check the tires, fluids and every light, and drive it on both slow streets and a highway. Then pay an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. Walk away from any seller who will not allow one.

What to show, in order

1. Run the vehicle identification number through a vehicle history report before you travel to see the car.
2. Arrange to see it in daylight, and ask the seller not to start it before you arrive so you hear a cold start.
3. Walk around it: look for rust, uneven panel gaps, paint that does not match and fresh undercoating hiding rust.
4. Check the tires for even wear, the oil and coolant for color and level, and the ground under the car for drips.
5. Test every light, the air conditioning, the heat, the windows, the locks and the seat belts.
6. Start it yourself and listen for knocks, squeals or smoke from the exhaust.
7. Drive it for at least 20 minutes on slow streets and a highway, and test the brakes firmly in a safe spot.
8. Check that the title name matches the seller's ID and that the title is not marked salvage or rebuilt unless you knew that.
9. Book an independent pre-purchase inspection, then use anything it finds to negotiate or walk away.

When to stop and call a professional

• Always: have an independent mechanic you choose inspect the car before you pay.
• The history report shows flood, salvage or odometer problems.
• The seller cannot produce a title in their own name.

The check question

Ask: Why ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive? Answer: So you can hear a cold start, which reveals problems a warm engine hides

From EveryManKnows. General information, not professional advice.