A Complete List of Used Car Buying Tips

In the old days just about the least person you could trust was a car salesman. Even worse than that was a used car salesman. You were always left wondering if you got a good deal or if he did. There was never that team feeling. That is not the case anymore, but if you are smart you will either do some basic checks yourself or bring along a mechanic to do them for you.

Here are the basic checks you should perform before you buy a used car.

The obvious place to look is at what is staring you in the face. Look at the body and check for any color differences that could suggest the car has been in an accident. You should check for paint on glass, the undercarriage, and on the body moldings. Check the doors, trunk, and hood to make sure they open smoothly and not squeaky. A squeak could mean the car has been involved in an accident. When in doubt ask. A minor fender bender is o.k. whereas a major wreck could mean you need to take a closer look.

Open the hood and check the fluids while the engine is cold. Make sure the oil is clean. Check the engine while it is cold for noises that you may not hear when the engine is warmed up. Check the radiator fluid to make sure it is not brown or discolored.

Now you can start the engine and let it run. Once the engine is warmed up you can check the transmission fluid and look to see it is red in color. If it is discolored or smells burnt you could have transmission problems which is an expensive repair.

Once you have tested under the hood you will want to test drive it. Drive the car for at least 10 minutes both in the city and on the highway. Listen to the brakes when you stop and pay attention for any squealing noises while you are driving.

Check out the air conditioning and heater. Run the wipers, the radio or cd player if the car has one. Make sure the lights work both on the outside and inside of the car. If you smell anything make a note of it.
Lastly ask the dealer or seller for a Carfax report which will detail any major accidents.

If you leave the car and come back to buy it test drive it one more time before doing the paperwork just to make sure.

There are many good deals to be had on used cars as they run and last longer than they used to. Just take your time and check everything out thoroughly.