You have finally found the used car you think you want to buy. So you head to the dealer to check it out, and it looks great! However, before you sign on the dotted line, there are many things that should be considered. Here is a list of some of the most important things to consider when buying a used car.
Begin by checking the following things by taking a slow walk around the car:
Rust: once rust starts, it’s hard to stop. Carefully inspect the entire car to make sure you don’t see any rust.
Body: look at any gaps on the body between parts. Uneven gaps means it wasn’t fixed right.
Tires: Check the tires for wear, especially the front. If they’re worn unevenly, it could indicate an alignment issue.
Fluids: bend down and take a quick look under the car to make sure there are no fluids on the ground such as oil, transmission fluid, or coolant.
Now pop the hood and check the following:
- Transmission fluid: this should smell sweet and not be burnt orange or brown. Make sure you check it with engine running.
- Coolant: turn off the engine before checking this. Make sure it is not brown-colored or empty. Either can indicate a problem such as poor upkeep from the previous owner, or even a coolant leak inside the engine.
- Oil: be sure to check the level and that it looks clean and isn’t too thick or dark in color.
- Battery: look for any corroded terminals as this can mean bad maintenance, otherwise batteries are relatively cheap and easy to replace.
Interior: even if the interior looks great, there may be issues you can’t see right off. Climb in and check the floor for soft spots (rust). Look at the pedals and seats for wear. Open the trunk and make sure there are no holes as this can also indicate rust.
Windows: make sure all windows easily open and close. If there are windows locks, make sure they work as well.
Doors and locks: open all doors – both from the inside and outside. Make sure the locks work on all doors, from both sides, too.
At this point, if everything looks pretty good, go ahead and take a test drive. Make sure you test drive the car in different situations and at different speeds. Take it on regular roads and on the highway. Pay attention to how well it accelerates, how well it steers, listen for any odd noises, and be sure to pay attention to the following:
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