Do this before you buy your next second-hand car

Dan Terziev
Jul 21, 2022
4 min read

Having limited your options of used automobiles, you've decided on one of them. For peace of mind, take a few additional precautions before purchasing the car you've been eyeing. While shopping for your next large purchase, keep the following in mind.

Test drive.

The only way to determine whether it's right for you is to take it for a spin. Take it to a speed of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour and smoothly apply the brakes. If the brake pedal vibrates, there must be an issue with the rotors or pads. If the vehicle swerves when you use the brakes, you may have worn steering components or malfunctioning brake calipers to blame for this.

Check the body

Look at the car's surface to see if it has corrosion, discoloration, or scratches, indicating that it has been repainted or subjected to acid rain. Make that the lenses and reflectors are in good condition. The lights should operate correctly, so ask a buddy to check them.

Check the car's body closely for dings, scratches, or corrosion. There should be no noticeable waviness in the paint on any vehicle's body panels. Roughness at the borders of panel joints is another telltale sign. Masking tape residue, often used while painting an automobile, may be seen here. One technique to tell whether a dent has been fixed with body filler is to attach a magnet to it. Magnets won't cling to those with fillers in their bodies.

Gently raising and releasing the driver's door, in particular, will reveal whether the vehicle has been driven often. It is a sign of wear and tear if the hinges of a door seem loose. The same is true for automobile doors with torn or rotted rubber seals. Both are a definite sign that it has been treading the ground for some time. The saddle, which supports the radiator's top and joins the front fenders, should also be checked for damage. Crash damage may have caused the bolt heads at the top of the fenders to be scratched, indicating that they had to be adjusted or replaced.

Scan the engine bay.

A peek into the engine bay may provide valuable insight into the car's structure and powertrain. For example, a welded or bolted frame indicates a front-end accident. In contrast, scratches on the bolt heads in the fenders' upper corners show a front panel replacement or repositioning was performed. Instead of being rusty or milky, coolants should have a green or orange hue. If the radiator has greenish stains, there may be leaks in the system.

Inspect the car's undercarriage.

Make a visual inspection of the vehicle's undercarriage for signs of corrosion. Bring it to a repair establishment with a vehicle lift or an inspection pit if you can examine it beneath. Find black patches in the exhaust system as a sign of a leak. If you observe a film of oily filth on your fingertips after running them through the exhaust, you have a severe issue on your hands. When you start the automobile, you'll see the white mist from the exhaust pipe. This is a terrible indicator.

Check the tires.

All four tires should wear evenly. Wheel alignment issues, worn steering or suspension components, or even damage to the structure may cause uneven wear on a vehicle's tires. When the car is level, check to verify whether the shock absorbers operate correctly by bouncing each corner. If the car does more than one rebound, there is an issue with the suspension.

The tread width and the left and right sides of a car's vehicle must be evenly distributed. They should also be in sync. If the wear on the drive wheels is excessive, it indicates that the driver did not rotate the wheels regularly. At the outer shoulder of the front tires, the sidewall's edge, aggressive drivers may exert a lot of pressure on tires.

Inspect the interior.

As soon as you step foot in the vehicle, smell it out. Is there a moldy or mildewy scent to it? Because if so, you may be dealing with water leaking. To track out the source of the leak, look for damp areas. If you're searching for a vehicle with a squeaky-clean fragrance, you may want to seek a new one.

Make sure to try out all the seats inside the car. Check for tears or badly worn upholstery. Don't forget to try out the seatbelts and seat adjustments to ensure that they're working and aren't in need of repairs.

You know a vehicle has been driven a lot when the brakes exhibit symptoms of wear and tear. While evaluating a used automobile, don't forget to examine the control buttons. Try flipping the ignition switch off and back on for a few seconds before starting the engine if it doesn't work.

Additionally, make sure that the heater and air conditioner are working correctly. Start the engine and crank up the AC to the maximum setting. Take a look at how rapidly the cabin cools down. The heater may also be used for this. Tune in and listen to the radio on your entertainment system. The CD, MP3, and iPod players may be used to play music, so have a look around. Check the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections in the vehicle (if the car has them).

Check all electrical components.

The electrical system of an automobile is among the most complicated to fix. To avoid wasting time and money, it's a good idea to ensure everything operates as it should before attempting a repair.

Check all fluid levels.

Check that all the car's fluids are full, particularly the critical ones like the engine oil, power steering, gearbox, and braking fluids. A dark brown or black color is typical for engine oil, with no visible particles or residue. A recent oil change may be seen by the honey-colored spots on the surface of the oil. To avoid the transmission fluid smelling like "burnt rubber" and looking brown instead, it should be pinkish in hue. Dipsticks with gray or frothy oil or metal particles are warning signs of more severe issues.

You need to know how to shop for used cars to get the best deal. However, there are still hazards, regardless of whether you purchase from a private individual or an authorized dealership. Buying with confidence is possible if you use our checklist in conjunction with common sense and research. Never let your money go to waste. Your preparedness can give you a long-lasting investment.