5 Things To Check Before Buying A Used Car

While it is certainly a fact that you can save a lot of money by deciding to purchase a used car, you must also be very careful. If you make a mistake and buy a car that is damaged, it may end up costing you a lot more in the long run. You must particularly be careful of all those hidden damages that a car dealership will not necessarily warn you about.

So, in order to make the whole ordeal a bit less confusing, and help you make the right choice, in this article, we are going to go over 5 important things that you need to check before buying a used car.

Take it for a test drive

It is crucial that you ask to take the car for a test drive. That way you will be able to get a good idea of how it feels behind its wheel and how it responds to your actions. You should include various areas, within what is reasonable to ask, so that you can see how well it shifts, brakes, and turns. This way you will be able to tell what condition the vehicle is truly in.

Carefully listen to the sounds that the car makes and keep your eyes open. Note anything that sounds or looks off. If you can drive the car along the highway so that you can truly tell whether the engine is working properly or not.

Check both the interior and the exterior

It is important to take a good look at both the inside and the outside of the car. When looking inside, check the upholstery attentively. Make sure that you look for any external or internal repairs. The reason behind this, of course, isn’t because you are looking for a car that has never been worked on, but the fact that you need to be certain that anything that has been done to it was done professionally.

Of course, it goes without saying that you need to open the hood and carefully look over and check the engine and other parts. If anything in there is rusty or dirty, it should be a red flag for you, as it could very well mean that you are going to have problems with the car sooner or later.

Check the battery

Testing the battery is very important as well. If the battery is fully charged, it’ll be at 12.6 volts or more. When you turn on the engine, the number should be between 13.7 and 14.7 volts. In case there isn’t a multitester around, the battery can be checked by starting the car and turning the headlights on.

If the lights are dim, then they are using the battery’s charge and the alternator isn’t doing its job. If they turn brighter by revving the engine, then the alternator is coming up with current, but quite probably not enough to keep the battery fully. If the brightness is normal and consistent, you shouldn’t worry about it. Otherwise, the car has a problem, so you will want to check what the car replacement battery price is, or choose a different car altogether.

See if there are any fluid leaks

Take a good look below the engine bay to see whether any fluids are leaking. If the bay is dirty, that is already a red flag for you. However, it may also be clean but hide potential leaks that are out of immediate sight. If you have taken the car for a test drive, take a good look whether any fluids have had leaked during that time.

See if there are any oil splatters inside the hood, and make sure that the exhaust manifold isn’t cracked. The best way to do this is to turn the engine on and see whether smoke is coming out of places where it shouldn’t.

Do some research

Before you even come down to the place that you intend to buy the car from, you should be a detective on your own. No matter how extensive your knowledge of vehicles is, you should look for reviews on the model and make of the car. This will help you find any potential problems a lot easier because you will know exactly what you should be looking for.

In summation

It is important that you never rush with your decision to buy a particular used car. Take your time, do your research, and, of course, negotiate the price that you think is right and fair. You really want to avoid the so-called "buyer’s remorse". Getting a used car can be a great investment if you do it properly and carefully.