1

Make sure that the car is on level ground before checking it out. This is to ensure that you will be able to clearly check the tires
and to see if there is anything sagging on the car.
2
Carefully check the paint job of the car, taking note of any rust spots, dents or scratches. Look at the sides of the car from
end-on for waviness; that indicates paint work. Run your finger along the edges of the joints between panels; roughness indicates
residue left from masking tape.
3
Check the trunk of the car to make sure it is still in good condition. It should not show any sign of rust, or water entry due to
cracks or holes. Wear inside of the trunk indicates usage of the car.
4
Check under the hood of the car for any indication of dents, damage or rust.These can all be signs that the car was either
poorly taken care of or damaged. Each fender, just inside where the hood joins, should have a decal with the VIN (Vehicle
Identification Number) of the car; if it is missing, that fender was replaced.
5
The hoses and belts should not have cracks. The radiator hoses should not be soft.
6
Go inside the car and check the seats and upholstery of the car for any tears, rips, stains, or other type of damage.
7
Check to make sure the air-conditioning of the car is working well by turning it on to see that it works. If air conditioning is a
must buy a car with R134 coolant. Most cars fitted with R134 are 1993 or newer and have a sticker on the AC Condenser.
8
Check the odometer of the car for the mileage. This is important because the mileage indicates the cars age. On the average, a
normal driver will drive between 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year; however, this depends on many factors. Remember, cars age by
time and mileage. Buying a 10 year old car with very low miles is not necessarily a good thing.
9
Test drive the car before making any final decisions. This is perhaps one of the best ways to know the condition of the car.
Hence, a buyer should make all effort to do a test drive first before coming to any decisions.
10
Check out the car's service history which should give you some information regarding the performances, repairs, and
problems of the car.Ideally, the current owner would have kept a record of the times when the car needed servicing and
should be willing to show you this information. Some cars do not have maintenance records because they maintained
them at home. This should be fine as long as they can prove they maintained the car properly. There are instances where
used cars are sold because of past accidents or negative experiences.
11
Be sure to check the brakes of the car by pressing down hard enough on the brakes to decelerate rapidly, but not enough
to slide. Try this going around 30 mph in an area without traffic. You should not feel any vibration from the brake pedal, or
hear any squealing or strange noises. Brakes that pulsate indicate the need for having the rotors resurfaced or replaced
and new pads installed. It should not swerve; this can be caused by a bad brake caliper or worn steering components.
12
Inspect the engine for any sort of leaks, or corrosion. On the engine block, look for any dark brown oil stains, this will
indicate that there is a leak in a gasket, and could possibly lead to an expensive repair in the future. Check the brake fluid,
and reservoir to make sure its is not leaking. The belts should look new (i.e. not have cracks or signs of drying). Old belts
can snap, and if you do not know how to replace them, it will cost between $100-500 depending on which belt goes bad.
13
Remove the oil filler cap. A foam residue on the inside indicates a leaking head gasket. Forget that car. Look at the
condition of the coolant in the overflow jar; filthy brown coolant means it's never been flushed and often means a leaky
head gasket.
14
Pull the transmission dipstick; the fluid should be pink or red. An old car may be dark but it should not look or smell burnt.
It should also be full (check with the engine running).
15
The timing belt is the most important belt in the engine, and is also the most costly to replace. If the car is equipped with a
steel timing chain, you don't have to worry about this. Normal lifespan of a timing belt is from 60-100+ thousand miles; this
depends on the manufacturer.
16
The tires should be worn evenly and they should match. Look at the surface of the tire for feathering (bad alignment). Bad
alignment can be caused by worn steering/suspension components, the pothole down the street or frame damage. Also check the
spare tire and compare the tread to the other tires if it is a full spare.
17
Never buy a frame damaged car. Check the saddle (connects the front fenders and holds the top of the radiator). It should not be
welded on either side, it should be bolted in. Inspect the bolt heads at the top of the fenders inside the hood; scratch marks indicates
that the fenders have been replaced or realigned (after a crash). Look for welds inside the door jambs
18
Check for small trepidation at 45 / 55 / 65 / 75 mph. Slight trepidation during a small speed interval may mean wear at the
direction mechanical parts which may cost between 400 to 1500 to repair. These may include joints / arms etc. This may go together
with uneven wear at the front tire(s).
19
Check for sounds, trepidation or clunking noise when making a 90 degrees turn. Do this at low speed. This means again,
wear at the front direction level: joints need to be changed.
20
Some cars have computers on board. Bring with you an inexpensive computer to check for errors. At any auto store they have
inexpensive devices with prices around 150$.
21
For a car that has an on board computer, pay attention to the warnings right when you start the car or when you turn the
key or the start button.
22
Verify the lights and all the regular functions of the car when not moving.This include: any sensors for parking, back parking
camera, radio, CD, music installation, etc...
23
If you are able, try to get under the car when it is safely raised and inspect the exhaust system or any under-body
rust. Look for any black spots on the exhaust system because this can indicate leaking. This is also a good time to inspect for frame
or unibody damage.
24
It is a good idea to bring along a trusted friend with a good background of automotive know-how to check things that you
are not sure of. If you do not have a trusted friend in the auto industry you can pay a mechanic to complete an inspection on it for
around 75-100 bucks. Make sure this mechanic has good reviews so you will not get scammed into thinking the car is a lemon.
25
Do not pay sticker price. A used car is a negotiable item. Do not feel the need to pay the price they are asking. The dealer bought
this car at a low price, and is turning around and selling it for much more than they purchased it with the notion that they might have
to lower that sticker price. Depending on the quality of the vehicle, feel free to offer a price. Be sure that it is a reasonable offer. If
the dealer is asking $15,000, do not offer $10,000. It is merely an insult by doing this. If the car is over $10,000, try to negotiate at
least $1500 off of the car. You can pre-qualify yourself at your bank or at a Credit Union. That will determine what you can spend for
a car. Try to buy a car that is less than they tell you. Most people try to buy more car than they can really afford. Remember, no
matter how good that car is today, it is going to require maintenance in the future. Use parts of the car that are unflattering to your
advantage. If a car is not the color you are looking for, tell the dealer "I really like the car, but I don't like that it is green, that is the
only thing holding me back from buying it" The dealer will see that you want it, and find some way to get you into that car.
26
If purchasing from a private sale it can be beneficial to the price negotiation to bring a pen, paper and cell phone with
you. As you make your inspection of the car be sure to record all items which are damaged or will require replacement. If needed
also remind the buyer that you will be taking the vehicle to your own personal mechanic so they do not think the list is for theirs.
After you have collected a list of what you believe the car will require you can telephone auto parts stores to check the price and
availability of replacement parts. Once you know how much the car will cost to repair if you buy it you can make an informed
decision on what you would like to pay as well as increase the likelihood that the seller may reduce their asking price. Be careful
while doing this because some sellers may think its rude by doing this and thus could end into a no sale