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Buying a
used car can sometimes be a gamble, but you can put the odds in your favor by
being thorough in your research and inspection. Here’s a checklist of what to
go over to ensure peace of mind.
Start with Research
Before you start
visiting dealerships or contacting private owners, it's important to do some
research (which, if you’re reading this, you’ve already started, so nice job!).
If you haven’t already, figure out what type of vehicle you want, then narrow
it down to a few different models.
One reason for
having a specific type of vehicle in mind early is that researching items on a
minivan is going to be different from researching items on an SUV. Furthermore,
all vehicles tend to have specific issues isolated by model and even isolated
by different years of that model. Knowing exactly what type of issues might be
present in your vehicle of choice gives you an excellent starting point in
inspecting it for problems.
Model
Research Check List:
Once you’ve learned
a little about these areas of the vehicles you’re interested in, it’s time to
test drive. Here’s a quick rundown of things to look for when you go to see a
vehicle.
Things to check:
Step 1: Body Condition
When you look at a vehicle that you're considering, it's important to go over
it carefully before driving it. Start with checking out the body condition.
Walk around the vehicle and look for body surface defects such as scratches,
dents or rust. Take note of whether there are any signs of mismatched paint as
this could be a sign of a panel being replaced due to an accident. Another clue
is whether the body panels line up evenly. Next, open and close all the doors,
including the hood and trunk. Does everything close and open easily? Doors that
are difficult to close or open might also be a sign of an accident. Check under
the vehicle and around its wheel wells for rust; when you’re looking at the
vehicle’s paint, look for signs of bubbling, which can indicate rust
underneath.
Step 2: Tyres
Take a look at the tyres of your prospective car. Examine the tread. Look at
the tread again and check to see if it has worn evenly on both sides. Uneven
wear could indicate a problem with alignment. Check all the tyres to see if
they're the same brand; while different brands on one or more wheels isn’t
necessarily a bad sign, inquire about the age of all the tyres and why they’re
a mismatched set. It's also a good idea to ask if the tyres have been rotated
regularly.
Step 3: Lights
Next up, check all the lights on the vehicle. Have the seller or a friend get
into the car and turn on the headlights, running lights, high beams, fog lights
if available and all the blinkers. Have them also depress the brake pedal to
make sure those lights work. Physically examine all the light housings to look
for damage such as cracks, foggy lenses or water. One of the signs of a
flood-damaged vehicle is water in the light housings.
Once you’re satisfied with the outside of the vehicle, it’s time to look inside.
Things to check:
Step 1: Smell
The first thing to notice is the odour in the car. The odour should be neutral
or perhaps smell faintly of any air freshener item being used. If it smells
like cigarette smoke or an animal, you may want to think twice as those smells
are notoriously hard to remove. Another red flag is a musty or mouldy smell.
This tends to be a sign of either a flood-damaged vehicle or one with some type
of leak. If you do smell this odour, make sure to check the interior closely
for signs of mould or water damage. Ask about the vehicle’s history and what the
reason is for the odour.
Step 2: Seats
Check the seats next. Look at the upholstery and see if it's worn, stained or
torn. If you suspect mildew from the first step, examine the seats carefully
for signs of water damage. A leaking roof or window seals could also cause
this, not just flood damage. Check the controls on the seats, whether manual or
power, to make sure they all work properly. Specifically, check the driver's
seat adjustments to ensure that you can find a comfortable position. Also make
sure all of the seatbelts throughout the vehicle work — strap, buckle and
retractor.
Step 3: Instruments and Controls
Switch the car on into accessory mode. All the warning lights should come on
for a second before flashing off again. Turn the car on and see if any of the
lights stay on. Any light that stays on should be checked out. Complete your
instrument check by making sure all the controls work how they should. Check
the climate control and make sure the heater and AC if available work properly
and switch on the audio system as well.
Step 4: Roof
Investigate the roof by checking the headliner and trim. Check the seals around
the windows and make sure any sun or moonroof isn't leaking. If the vehicle has
a soft top, convertible or removable hardtop, make sure to check that
everything fits properly and isn't leaking. On older vehicles, make sure the
headliner isn’t sagging or coming undone from the ceiling itself.
Make sure there are no water droplets on the dipstick or grey, foamy fluid. These could be signs of a blown head gasket or cracked block. Transmission fluid should smell like oil and be pinkish. Brown fluid with a burnt odour could indicate problems.
This is the most
crucial part of your inspection. Take the car on both the highway and city
streets. Vary your speed and try to climb and descend at least one hill. Make
sure there are no unusual vibrations or noises and that the transmission shifts
smoothly. Make sure that it accelerates smoothly and doesn't lose power on
inclines. Check the brakes in both a gradual and sudden stop situation to see
how they perform. Let the car idle at some point as well to make sure it idles
smoothly and doesn't drop or lope. While you're doing this, you can also
observe the exhaust and ensure that it's not cloudy and white, black or
blue-tinged.
The final steps to
buying a used car are to have it professionally inspected by a mechanic and get
a vehicle history report. Make sure the VIN matches everywhere on the vehicle
and that it matches the registration. Another tip is to make sure that the registration
and title match the person selling you the car or someone in the household.
Also, make sure the seller has the title of the vehicle in hand; be wary of
sellers who have a complicated story as to the whereabouts of the physical
title.
Final Checklist:
