Checking A Used Car Before Purchase

When buying a used car seller might be a car dealer, a co-worker, a family member, a friend or a neighbour; either way you need to make the same checks. While friends and family most likely will not have any desire to fob you off with a sub-standard quality machine, it may be that they simply don’t know what they should be looking for.

Some American states require that sellers of used cars must pass a vehicle inspection before a sale is made. Even if this isn’t the case then it may still be an idea to carry one out. Finding out if your state requires such a check is a simple case of a phone call to you state Attorney General’s office. Other countries like the UK do not require such a test for used cars but they still need to be properly insured and have an up to date MOT. Don’t let someone ply you with excuses as to why the proper documentation is not in place.

Using your own vehicle checklist can help to remember just what you should be looking for, so take one with you when you insect the car. Checklists are published all over the Internet and in books and magazines. Little things like checking that the heating and defrosting works can easily be overlooked when buying a car in summer: a used car checklist can help to prevent this kind of oversight.

Test driving the car is vitally important as there is no way you can gauge the car’s performance when it is in the garage or on someone’s yard. If the seller won’t let you take it for a test drive then – sniff sniff – there’s that rat again.