When looking to buy a car, you must know what to look for. To the untrained eye, a car can look in perfect condition without a scratch on it. However, underneath the hood, it can be a different story. The used car market is an ideal place to save on the cost of a car, but caution is needed to ensure you get a reliable vehicle.
The first thing you need to do is check out the dealer you are buying the car from. Reputable dealers will have a longstanding reputation in the community, and you will be able to check on what people have to say about them online. If they have a reputation to protect, they will have ensured that the care they are selling you is in good working order.
Afterwards, there are more check-ups you can perform on your vehicle. Here are additional inspections to ensure your car is in good condition:
1. Inspect the tires
Make sure you are checking the tires to make sure that the tread is deep enough. If the tires need to be replaced, this can be an additional cost that you have to budget for. By no means is this a deal-breaker, as replacing the tires on the vehicle is one of the easiest things to do. However, it is something that you may want to negotiate for in the price if the tires are old.
If you notice that the tires are worn, do not delay in replacing them. The tires are the only part of the car that are in contact with the road, so you need them to be in great shape.
2. Check the mileage
Mileage is important, but another critical metric to balance this against is how old the car is. What you should be looking for is about 20,000km per year. If you are a frequent driver, there will be more wear-and-tear on the car than comparable models of that year. You should be looking at a discounted vehicle.
3. Look at the paint of the car
The paint can tell you a little more about the car’s history. If the paint doesn’t match perfectly between the panels, then there is a chance that the car was in an accident. Also, you will want to make sure that no rust has been hastily painted over to hide it for the sale. This can usually present as bubbles or rough spots under the paint.
Not only is rust an aesthetic problem, but it can also lead to problems with the integrity of the vehicle. Be sure to examine underneath the car for signs of rust. This is where the most damage can take place.
4. Pop the hood
If you are not a mechanic, you may not know what to look for when looking at the engine of the car. It is always good to bring someone along with at least some familiarity with vehicles so they can spot anything that looks amiss. Typically, you should be looking for any signs of corrosion or less than professional maintenance like duct tape or replaced parts that look a little out of place.
5. Check the oil levels
If the car has been running, you want to wait at least 10 minutes before you check the oil level so that it can settle. The best method for checking the oil level is to remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, dip it and pull it out. If the oil looks dark, opaque or muddy, it hasn’t been changed for a while and is a sign of poor maintenance.
6. Test the lights
Running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and headlights must be tested to check they’re in good working condition. Lights that often get overlooked at this stage in the testing are the interior lights. Be sure to test them as you don’t want to find out they need to be replaced the first evening after buying the car.
7. Test drive the car
Take the car out on the road and drive it for at least 30 minutes. This will give you a feel for the car. The test drive will allow you to make sure your car won’t overheat and brakes well. After driving the vehicle, be sure to pop the hood and smell any burnt smell. This will indicate that it is overheating.
8. Look into the vehicle history
Historical damage to a vehicle is often not visible. Online reports will tell you the car’s whole story and if it has been in any accidents. The information can alert you to anything in the car’s history that may concern you. If there are any red flags, you should be paying less than you are.