An Intelligent Guide To Used Vehicle Shopping

When shopping for a used car or truck there are certain tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your money and new vehicle that will leave you exiting the dealership or neighborhood with pride. Following this simple guide and it will save you from costly visits to the mechanic.

First of all you will want to always check the undercarriage of a vehicle before purchasing it. This is the number one tip to keep in mind when purchasing a used vehicle. You always want to get down on the ground and manually look underneath a car if you are seriously considering purchasing it. Doing this can give you a clear idea of what kind of shape a car is actually in.

Inexperienced used car shoppers often come home with a newly painted car only to find out that the undercarriage of the car is in shambles. A paint job can up the price of a car and it's true that many dealerships will put on a new coat of paint and double the price of the vehicle before selling. Although the outside appearance has been altered this will not change how well this vehicle will run.

Underneath the car you will want to look for anything out of place or any large scratches, these will indicate accidents this car has previously been involved in or problems it may have. The main thing you will be looking for underneath the vehicle is rust. Rust is caused from iron oxidization. This can be a cause from environment or damage, such as living by the ocean or a leaking valve. You do not want to purchase a rusted vehicle as it is a tell tale sign of parts having a need to be replaced in the near future.

Next you will want to evaluate the vehicle's history by using your judgment to assess it. Check the mileage by reading the odometer on the dashboard. Look around, if the wear and tear on the car matches with the number on the odometer then it is likely this is an honest reading. However you can assume on most used cars the odometer has been rolled back.

If you want to tell if an odometer has been rolled back here are a few signs you can look for. Examine the alignment of the numbers. If this seems adjusted, shifted or spaced out in any way it can be a sign of being rolled back. If this is a fairly new used car or claims to have extremely low mileage you can check to see if the original tires are on the vehicle. If the factory stock tires are still on the car they can give you a good idea of how much mileage this vehicle truly is sporting.

You will also want to examine the title of the vehicle to see if the odometer and the title read the same mileage numbers. Check if the ink on the title has been altered at all, this can be an indication that someone has changed it to lie about mileage in hopes of getting more money when selling it as a lower mileage vehicle.

If you are still not sure if the odometer has been set back you will look to the car's interior for signs. Check the dashboard for any plastic shavings or a rough edge around the button that turns back the odometer. If this has never been used it should have no wear at all.

Also you will want to look at the driver's side foot petal, arm rest, seal belt, door lock and window controls. If these are worn down it is from long term usage and you can be sure this car has more than a couple of miles on it's record.

Before purchasing a used vehicle ask the seller about the car's maintenance records. These are often kept at a mechanic or garage for the full history and details. However if buying from the previous owner they can often tell you what work has been done on the vehicle and what will need to be done in the near future. Ask about repairs done in the past and if anything, what needs to be replaced and how soon.

If you really want a feeling of how a vehicle runs you will want to take it for a test drive before purchasing. If the owner or dealership will not let you drive it, ask them to take you along as a passenger. If they do not want any test runs always ask the owner to fire up the engine.

When they turn the key in the ignition you can check for signs of a vehicle's engine and electrical condition. Look for any hesitation or grinding when starting up. Listen to the engine for at least 30 seconds after turning it on, especially before driving away. You can tell how well an engine runs by the noise it is making. You do not want any shaking to the vehicle's engine. Wait for it to smooth out and warm up before judging it's sound.

Last but not certainly not least you should always look under the hood of the car. A simple glance from even someone who knows nothing about mechanics can tell whether this engine is in poor condition. Look to see if everything is sturdy and solid. Check for rust and the general cleanliness of the area. A bit of dirt or oil is nothing to be alarmed about. However you want to make sure there are not any parts leaking. Check the fan belt to see if it is worn or in good shape. Fan belts can easily be replaced along with many items in a car for under 50 dollars. If nothing is too out of the ordinary underneath the hood then don't fret about the details.

If you follow this simple guide to intelligent used vehicle shopping I can guarantee you will be happy with your new purchase for years to come.