Buying a used car is an extremely important decision in your life. It
is important to make sure that you are not buying a product that cannot
perform as expected. There may be problems in the car that may be hard
to find. You need to check all these things in order to make sure that
your car is safe, efficient, and in good shape!
Buying a used car checklist
Is the vehicle in your price range? -
you don't want to buy a car that will put you into bad shape that will
cause financial harm to you in the future.
Is this car the right size for you? -
can this car fit everyone and everything you need to put in your car?
You don't want to find out that this is a problem AFTER you have bought
the car.
Do all the doors, trunks and hood open
and close properly? - if the things don't close properly it may be
dangerous to drive as they may just open when your on the road.
Is all the glass ok? - you don't want
to have any hidden cracks that may get worse over time and find out
about them after you have bought the car.
Does the car drive ok? - you definitely
want to make sure of this BEFORE you buy the car to make sure you like
the drive.
Does the stereo sound ok? - some people
forget this one and later found out that they don't like the quality of
the car stereo.
Things to stay away from when buying a car
Funny Noises - you don't want a car making unusual noises. That
is NEVER a good thing.
Bad Air conditioning - this can potentially be an expensive
thing to replace.
Doesn't start right away - this is something that will need to
be fixed and can be costly. Be careful of this.
Don't stop looking after you find the first car you like -
someone might be really good at selling the car to you however this car
just might not be the right one for you! Look around for better prices
and better opportunities. If you can't find something after you have
looked around a lot, then buying that first car is fine.
Don't make the decision on your own - the other people using the
car (wife, kids, coworkers, etc.) may have some valuable input about
the car.
Other Things to check:
TIRES: Look for bald tires which are a huge safety hazard.
BELTS: Belts can be some of the most critical engine parts. Make sure
they are in good shape, or replace
LEAKS: Check for oil and other leaks, which can be costly
REPAIR RECORDS: Request repair records, which can show preventive
maintenance diligence and help to predict lifespan
It's generally a good idea to pay your local mechanic to give the car a
once over before buying it.
You will usually get a better deal from private sellers than from car
dealers, but you will need to check the car out better before you buy
it since you generally won't get a warrantee from a private seller. Due
diligence is key.
